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Rare association of herpes simplex virus IgM-specific antibodies and Guillain-Barré syndrome successfully treated with plasma exchange and immunosuppression

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Summary

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) has been associated with various neurological disorders. In contrast, HSV infection is very rarely found in acute polyneuroradiculitis. In this report, a patient is described with a severe course of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). HSV IgM-specific antibodies and a rise of complement-fixation antibodies were detected. During the acute phase of neurologic syndrome, a nerve biopsy showed myelin damage and IgM deposits on the inner layer of the perineurium. Plasma exchange, in combination with immunosuppression, was successfully applied as a treatment in the relapsing course of GBS. Finally, after recovery, HSV-specific IgM antibodies disappeared.

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Abbreviations

C3, C4:

third, fourth complement component

CF:

complement fixation

CIC:

circulating immune complexes

CMV:

cytomegalovirus

CNS:

central nervous system

CSF:

cerebrospinal fluid

EBV:

Epstein-Barr virus

ELISA:

enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

FITC:

fluorescein isothiocyanate

GBS:

Guillain-Barré syndrome

HBV:

hepatitis B virus

HSV:

herpes simplex virus

IF:

immunofluorescence

Ig:

immunoglobulin

MRC:

medical Research Council

OD:

optical density

RF:

rheumatoid factor

VDRL:

venereal disease research laboratory

VZV:

varizellazoster virus

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. I. Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik der Universität Mainz, Germany

    G. Gerken, F. Trautmann, H. Köhler & K. -H. Meyer zum Büschenfelde

  2. Abteilung für experimentelle Virologie des Instituts für Medizinische Mikrobiologie der Universität Mainz, Germany

    D. Falke

  3. Abteilung für Neuropathologie des Instituts für Pathologie der Universität Mainz, Germany

    J. Bohl

  4. Neurologische Klinik der Universität Mainz, Germany

    W. Nix

Authors
  1. G. Gerken
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  2. F. Trautmann
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  3. H. Köhler
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  4. D. Falke
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  5. J. Bohl
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  6. W. Nix
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  7. K. -H. Meyer zum Büschenfelde
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Gerken, G., Trautmann, F., Köhler, H. et al. Rare association of herpes simplex virus IgM-specific antibodies and Guillain-Barré syndrome successfully treated with plasma exchange and immunosuppression. Klin Wochenschr 63, 468–474 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01731495

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01731495

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