ABSTRACT
Herpes simplex viral encephalitis is a fairly common nonepidemic encephalitis which produces severe neurological sequelae in survivors. Most viral infections of the central nervous system produce diffuse damage, but the herpes simplex virus demonstrates a predilection for localization in the temporal and orbitofrontal regions of the brain. This case study illustrates the highly significant language difficulties, marked memory deficits, and propensity for physical aggression following temporal lobe damage brought about by herpes encephalitis, and presents the usefulness of a new diagnostic measure in delineating such a variable cognitive pattern.
Subject(s)
Encephalitis/psychology , Herpes Simplex/psychology , Temporal Lobe/diagnostic imaging , Adolescent , Aggression/physiology , Cognition/physiology , Encephalitis/diagnostic imaging , Herpes Simplex/diagnostic imaging , Humans , Male , Radiography , Stanford-Binet TestABSTRACT
Activity of the myelin marker enzyme 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphohydrolase (CNP) was assayed in cerebrospinal fluid samples obtained from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurological diseases. The enzyme activity was found to be elevated in acute cases of MS and reduced during remission. It was present in other demyelinating diseases, and no activity was detected in normal CSF. CNP may be released into CSF from any insult to myelin. The level of activity appears to reflect demyelination and the rate of breakdown of the myelin sheath.
