The role of intrauterine infection of the central nervous system with herpes simplex viruses in development of encephalopathies in infants

: Intrauterine infections often affect the infant brain and cause meningoencephalitis and long-term encephalopathy. In this study we have analysed morphological changes in different parts of CNS of 22 deceased infants who had suffered from encephalopathy of different degree due to persistence of herpes simplex viruses. Morphological, immunofluorescent, serological methods were used. Antigens of herpes simplex viruses I and/or II were detected in the CNS of most examinees. Relevant antibodies were detected in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid. Intrauterine infection was confirmed by the presence of specific for herpes simplex viruses morphological changes in the placentas. Hydrocephaly, secondary microencephaly, false cysts, microgyria were found macroscopically. There were herpes simplex viruses specific histological changes such as nuclear hyperchromatosis, intranuclear basophilic and acidophilic inclusions and nonspecific changes (gliosis, productive vasculitis). The data demonstrate that intrauterine herpes simplex viruses persistence in the CNS is an important cause of infantile encephalopathy, specific and nonspecific changes indicate a chronic course of the infection and depend on the degree of clinical symptoms.