pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Herpesvirus-Associated Encephalitis: an Update - PubMed

Review

Herpesvirus-Associated Encephalitis: an Update

Elizabeth Matthews et al. Curr Trop Med Rep. 2022.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Herpesviruses are a leading cause of encephalitis worldwide. The article reviews the eight human herpesviruses with a focus on recent advances as they pertain to encephalitis.

Recent findings: Notable recent updates include the development of multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based panels, which have improved access to PCR tests, especially in rural and resource-limited areas. Despite unchanged treatment recommendations, research is ongoing into novel therapies. There have been recent advances in vaccines, particularly for varicella zoster virus (VZV) which may impact neurologic complications. Finally, the recent discovery of an association between herpes encephalitis and post-infectious autoimmune encephalitis has had a critical impact on the fields of infectious and autoimmune neurology, though there remains much to learn.

Summary: Most herpesviruses are neurotropic and must be considered on the differential diagnosis for infectious encephalitis. This article describes recent advances in the diagnosis, treatment, complications, and management of these infections.

Keywords: Cytomegalovirus encephalitis; Epstein-Barr virus encephalitis; HHV6 encephalitis; Herpes encephalitis; Postinfectious autoimmune encephalitis; Varicella zoster virus encephalitis.

© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022, Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of InterestsDr. Beckham receives research funding from Roche. Dr. Piquet has received research funding from the University of Colorado and Rocky Mountain MS Center; consulting fees from Genentech/Roche and Alexion. Dr. Piquet reports honorarium from MedLink and publication royalties from Springer. Drs. Matthews, Tyler, Chauhan, and Pastula have no relevant financial or nonfinancial interests to disclose.

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Boucher A, Herrmann JL, Morand P, Buzelé R, Crabol Y, Stahl JP, Mailles A. Epidemiology of infectious encephalitis causes in 2016. Médecine Mal Infect. 2017;47:221–235. - PubMed
    1. Chaumont H, Roze E, Tressières B, Lazarini F, Lannuzel A. Central nervous system infections in a tropical area: influence of emerging and rare infections. Eur J Neurol. 2020;27:2242–2249. - PubMed
    1. Jmor F, Emsley HC, Fischer M, Solomon T, Lewthwaite P. The incidence of acute encephalitis syndrome in Western industrialised and tropical countries. Virol J. 2008;5:134. - PMC - PubMed
    1. James SH, Kimberlin DW. Neonatal herpes simplex virus infection: epidemiology and treatment. Clin Perinatol. 2015; 42:47–59, viii. - PubMed
    1. Baldwin KJ, Cummings CL. Herpesvirus infections of the nervous system. Contin Minneap Minn. 2018;24:1349–1369. - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources