Herpes group viruses diagnosis by polymerase chain reaction in Guillain bare syndrome and transverse myelitis

ABSTRACT

This study included 35 patients, their ages ranged from 11 months to 7 years. 20 cases presented with clinical manifestation of Guillain Barre syndrome [GBS] and 15 cases with clinical manifestations of transverse myelitis [TM]. All cases were subjected to general and neurological examinations and CSF analysis, computed tomography of dorsolumbar region for 15 cases with transverse myelitis. Polymerase chain reaction [PCR] was done for both CSF and blood of all cases for detection of cytomegalovirus-DNA, herpes simplex DNA and Epstein-Barr- DNA. Preceding illness in the form of upper respiratory infection, gastroenteritis and exanthem were detected in 65% and 39.99% among cases of GBS and TM, respectively. Total outcome among all 35 patients [8 weeks after onset of neurological manifestations] showed complete recovery in 45.71%, recovery with residual squelae in 40% and death in 14.29%. Cytomegalo-virus DNA PCR positive signal was the most commonly detected marker of viral infection in this study