Herpes simplex virus encephalitis in pregnancy - A case report and review of reported patients in the literature
Authors:
Dodd KC, Michael BD, Ziso B, Williams B, Borrow R, Krishnan A, Solomon T
Abstract:
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis is the most common sporadic cause of encephalitis with significant morbidity and mortality that is drastically reduced by early antiviral treatment. We report a 37 year old woman, 33 weeks pregnant, who presented with seizures due to proven HSV-1 encephalitis, and who had had a previous episode of probable viral encephalitis aged 14 years. She was successfully treated with aciclovir on both occasions and, in the latter, went on to deliver a healthy infant. This case is compared with 17 cases of HSV encephalitis in pregnancy in the literature identifying a predominance in the late 2nd and 3rd trimesters, perhaps in part due to immunological changes in pregnancy. The clinical presentation is also compared with non-pregnant patients with HSV encephalitis in the largest prospective UK and European studies. We also present practical advice on management from recent national guidelines.
Journal:
BMC
PMID:
25888964
Hyperlink:
Research Themes:
Clinical Surveillance