Herpes simplex virus infection as a cause of benign recurrent lymphocytic meningitis

Objective: To identify the role of herpes simplex virus (HSV) in causing benign recurrent lymphocytic meningitis. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Tertiary referral center. Patients: 20 consecutive patients with a provisional diagnosis of benign recurrent lymphocytic meningitis had cerebrospinal fluid specimens submitted between 1990 and 1993 to the diagnostic virology laboratory. Thirteen patients met our criteria for benign recurrent lymphocytic meningitis. Measurements: Herpes simplex virus DNA was detected in cerebrospinal fluid specimens using the polymerase chain reaction, followed by hybridization with a HSV-specific DNA probe