| CaliforniaLyme 2006-03-31, 5:11 pm |
| 1: Neurology. 2006 Jan 10;66(1):75-80. Related Articles, Links
Etiology of aseptic meningitis and encephalitis in an adult population.
Kupila L, Vuorinen T, Vainionpaa R, Hukkanen V, Marttila RJ, Kotilainen
P.
Department of Neurology, Turku university Hospital, Turku, Finland.
laura.kupila@tyks.fi
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the etiology of aseptic meningitis and
encephalitis in an adult population using modern microbiologic methods.
METHODS: Consecutive patients (ages > or =16) with aseptic meningitis
or encephalitis treated in Turku university Hospital, Finland, during
1999 to 2003 were included in the study. Microbiologic tests were
performed, including CSF PCR tests for enteroviruses, herpes simplex
virus (HSV) 1, HSV-2, and varicella zoster virus (VZV), as well as
serum and CSF antibody analysis for these viruses. Antibody testing was
also performed for other pathogens commonly involved in neurologic
infections. Virus culture was performed on CSF, fecal, and throat swab
specimens. RESULTS: Etiology was defined in 95 of 144 (66%) patients
with aseptic meningitis. Enteroviruses were the major causative agents
(26%), followed by HSV-2 (17% of all, 25% of females) and VZV (8%).
Etiology was identified in 15 of 42 (36%) patients with encephalitis,
VZV (12%), HSV-1 (9%), and tick-borne encephalitis virus (9%) being the
most commonly involved pathogens. Etiologic diagnosis was achieved by
PCR in 43% of the patients with meningitis and in 17% of those with
encephalitis. CONCLUSIONS: Enteroviruses and HSV-2 are the leading
causes of adult aseptic meningitis, and PCR is of diagnostic value.
However, in most cases of encephalitis, the etiology remains undefined.
PMID: 16401850 [PubMed - in process]
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