Diagnosis of meningoencephalitis caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 using nested PCR in CSF samples

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to achieve the early diagnosis of the neurologic alteration caused by the Herpes Simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) with the nested PCR technique in CSF. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January, 1994 to October, 1995, 140 CSF from 140 patients were studied in our laboratory. Ninety-five were diagnosed with viral meningoencephalitis (Group A) and 45 with other neurologic diseases (Group B). Nested PCR of HSV-1 and conventional viral cultures were carried out in all the cases. RESULTS: Laboratory diagnosis was achieved in 13 (13.68%) of Group A patients: in 12 (12.63%) HSV-1 genome was detected by nested PCR and in one patient adenovirus was isolated. In Group B, the HSV-1 was detected by nested PCR in 2 patients (4.44%). CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained demonstrate the usefulness of nested PCR in HSV-1 infection for the diagnosis of herpetic meningoencephalitis in initial stages of the disease, from a single CSF sample.