Increased detection rate in diagnosis of herpes simplex virus type 2 meningitis by real-time PCR using cerebrospinal fluid samples.

ABSTRACT: Efficient and sensitive diagnostic methods are needed in the management of virus infections in the central nervous system. There is a demand for an evaluation of the sensitivity of PCR methods for early diagnosis of meningitis due to herpes simplex type 2 (HSV-2) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV). The objective of this study was to evaluate real-time PCR in the detection of HSV-2 and VZV DNA from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for etiological diagnoses in clinically well-characterized cases of primary and recurrent aseptic meningitis. Samples from 110 patients, 65 of whom were diagnosed with or were strongly suspected of having HSV-2 meningitis and 45 with acute aseptic meningitis of unknown causes, were analyzed. Results were compared with the outcome of nested PCR for HSV-2 infection. Clinical

SUBMITTER: Franzen-Rohl E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1951252 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature