ABSTRACT
The inflammatory myopathies are a heterogeneous group of diseases due to autoimmunitary or infective causes. They are diagnosed by clinical electrophysiological features, and muscle biopsy. The autoimmunity group is subdivided in dermatomyositis, polimyositis and inclusion body myositis. The second group caused by viral genesis are called generally "myositis". The two groups have a different prognosis and therapy. The infective group denominated myositis have usually a viral etiology. We have evaluated 6 patients with viral myositis that are studied by physical examination, blood test (CK included), electromyographic pattern and muscle biopsy. The Authors emphasized the role of muscle biopsy for the diagnosis of this pathology and in particular for the myositis.
Subject(s)
Influenza, Human/complications , Myositis/etiology , Biopsy , Child , Child, Preschool , Electromyography , Female , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Influenza, Human/immunology , Influenza, Human/virology , Male , Muscles/pathology , Myositis/immunology , Myositis/virology , Myositis, Inclusion Body/etiology , Myositis, Inclusion Body/immunology , Myositis, Inclusion Body/virologyABSTRACT
A case of Herpes simplex virus encephalitis (HSVE) is reported in a 5 year old boy, who relapsed twice during the acute phase of the disease. The second relapse was completely cured by increasing the daily treatment with acyclovir to a dosage of 60 mg/kg intravenously for two weeks and 30 mg/kg by mouth for a further week. The full disappearance of the symptoms and the regression of cerebral lesions could be correlated to a prompt diagnosis and to the dosage of acyclovir employed, higher than that suggested for diseases caused that was by other members of the Herpes virus family.
