Use of brain biopsy for diagnostic evaluation of patients with suspected herpes simplex encephalitis: a statistical model and its clinical implications

Article Abstract:

Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) is an infection of the brain that is accurately diagnosed by clinical symptoms. While HSE has frequently been fatal in the past, safe and effective treatment now exists. Despite the relative ease of diagnosis and safety of treatment, it remains controversial whether there is a need to confirm the diagnosis of HSE by brain biopsy (taking a sample of brain tissue to test for the presence of HSE) before treatment is offered or initiated. Since 1972, the Collaborative Antiviral Study Group of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has evaluated patients with HSE. The value of brain biopsy for diagnosis has been established as one result of the group's work. It also became apparent that the use of brain biopsy allowed doctors to distinguish between HSE and other treatable conditions that may be similar to HSE. Using the results of the NIAID studies, data was analyzed mathematically to determine the value of brain biopsy in patients suspected of suffering from HSE. Patients under Strategy I had a brain biopsy and were treated with acyclovir (ACV; a recognized therapy for HSE). Under strategy II, patients were given ACV only. A mathematical model suggests that patients under strategy I will have a greater six-month survival rate than patients under Strategy II. The authors recommend that brain biopsy be the diagnostic approach of choice for most patients suspected of having HSE. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Causes of, Herpesvirus diseases, Herpesvirus infections

---

Diseases that mimic herpes simplex encephalitis: diagnosis, presentation, and outcome

Article Abstract:

The diagnosis of diseaes which mimic herpes simplex encephalitis is studied. A total of 432 patients had tissue samples taken from the brain to test for herpes simplex encephalitis. Three groups of patients were identified. The first group (195 patients) had a diagnosis of herpes simplex encephalitis proven by their brain tissue sample. The second group (95 patients) had diseases that were identified as other than herpes simplex encephalitis; 38 of these patients had treatable diseases, 40 had non-treatable but diagnosed viral infection, and 17 had identified diseases that were neither treatable nor caused by viruses. The third group of 142 people could not be diagnosed even after the brain tissue sample. When these patients came to medical attention their symptoms and appearances were similar. The patients most likely to have full recoveries were those in the subgroup with nontreatable but diagnosed viral infections.

Methods, Diagnosis, Differential, Differential diagnosis

---

Acyclovir with and without prednisone for the treatment of herpes zoster: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Article Abstract:

A combination of acyclovir and prednisone treatment appears to be effective in accelerating the recovery process in otherwise healthy patients with shingles. Two hundred eight patients with newly developed shingles flare-ups were randomly assigned to take either acyclovir plus prednisone, prednisone plus placebo, acyclovir plus placebo, or two placebos for 21 days. Patients taking both drugs experienced faster healing, a restoration of normal sleep and activity patterns and shorter periods of pain than the other groups.

Evaluation, Acyclovir, Prednisone, Shingles (Disease), Herpes zoster

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: The role of ultrasound in evaluation of patients with elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein: a review. Monozygotic twins discordant for partial trisomy 1
• Abstracts: Absence of need for amniocentesis in patients with elevated levels of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein and normal ultrasonographic examinations
• Abstracts: Gene transfer into humans - immunotherapy of patients with advanced melanoma, using tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes modified by retroviral gene transduction
• Abstracts: The fallacy of the screening interval for cervical smears. Colposcopic evaluation of human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive women
• Abstracts: Risk of thromboembolism during diagnostic and interventional cardiac procedures with nonionic contrast media. Thrombin generation in nonclottable mixtures of blood and nonionic contrast agents

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.