Lymphocytic Herpesviruses and Cerebrospinal Fluid Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Molecular Methods in the Etiological Diagnostics of Acute Central Nervous System Infections: Lymphocytic Herpesviruses and PCR

Enterovirus and herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 are the main causative agents of central nervous system infections.

Instead, the role of lymphocytic herpesviruses in the etiology of central nervous system (CNS) infections is not clear, even if there is the positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-result for the virus.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the presence of DNA from lymphocytic herpesviruses in the CSF obtained from the immunocompetent patients with CSF pleocytosis and from the patients with normal CSF leukocyte count.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Immunocompetent patients with clinical symptoms and signs of central nervous system infections and CSF pleocytosis (pleocytosis group)
• Immunocompetent patients without suspicion of CNS infection and no CSF pleocytosis (non-pleocytosis group)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Suspicion of CNS-infection, eg. encephalitis, but no CSF leukocytosis (pleocytosis group)
• Patients without symptoms of CNS infection, but who has CSF pleocytosis of unknown origin (non-pleocytosis group)