Detection of Human Herpesvirus 7 in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Children with Neurological Disorders
2Infectious Diseases Department, Belarusian Medical Academy of Post-Graduate Education, Minsk, Belarus
3Laboratory of Natural Reservoir Infections, Republican Research and Practical Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Minsk, Belarus
4Infectious Unit, City Children's Infectious Clinical Hospital, Minsk, Belarus
Background: uman Herpesvirus-7 (HHV-7) infection generally occurs in children peaking around three years of age. The role of HHV-7 as a cause of central nervous system (CNS) diseases in immunocompetent children has yet to be clearly defined.
Objectives: The aim of this study was detection of HHV-7 DNA in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with neurological symptoms who underwent lumbar puncture.
Methods: A total of 44 subjects were included. Mean age was 8 years, ranging 1-17. Detection of HHV-7 DNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) performed with a set of specific HHV-7 primers and probe.
Results: HHV-7 DNA detected in CSF in 3 patients (6.8%): in 2 of 24 (8.3%) patients with diagnoses of non-infectious neurological disorders (one epilepsy, one neurodegenerative disease of nervous system, unspecified); and in 1 of 20 patients (5.0%) with possible CNS infections (compatible clinical syndrome and CSF changes) in the absence of other causative agent (patient with meningitis). Treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) (total dose 2 g/kg) and high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone was effective in complete recovery without neurological deficit and clearance of HHV-7 DNA in CSF in the case of meningitis. In the case of epilepsy the patient showed improvement of neurological symptoms following the same treatment.
Conclusions: According to this research, detecting the HHV-7 DNA by PCR in CSF is recommended in patients with CNS disease. Treatment regimen, included IVIG and methylprednisolone, has clinical effect for HHV-7.
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