Organ recovery from a donor with presumed viral encephalitis: a case report and review.

This article reviews the pathophysiology of viral encephalitis, which is specifically infectious to transplant recipients, and discusses the potential infectivity of donors who had this virus. In addition, the case report demonstrates one center's experience in placing organs from a donor who was presumed--but not confirmed--to have viral encephalitis. When a patient with viral encephalitis is considered for organ donation, it is recommended that a brain biopsy be obtained prior to organ placement to identify the suspected virus or confirm the absence of any viral entity.