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Zuo et al.                                                                                                                                                                             Herpes simplex encephalitis in adults

           swelling, coning and death and lumbar puncture is to   be helpful in the future.
           be avoided. [27]
                                                              On  the biological  front,  mechanisms of  virus latent
           Other therapies                                    infection/recurrence  and analysis of  viral gene
           Supporting therapies are also very important for   structure and function need to be further explored using
           HSE patients to prevent a variety of complications,   advanced technologies. This might be accelerated by
           such  as  respiration  or  cardiac  failure,  fluid  balance   the  development  of  molecular genetics approaches
           disorders and deep vein thrombosis. For patients with   that could draw attention to the genetic conditions of
           increased  intracranial  pressure, neurointensive  care   susceptible populations.
           unit management is essential. Clinicians  in the  UK
           recommended that  the management of  HSE should    Financial support and sponsorship
           be a participatory process, which is co-produced  by   None.
           health professionals, patients, and their families. [28]
                                                              Conflicts of interest
           Unresolved issues in therapy                       There are no conflicts of interest.
           One important issue to consider is whether it is safe to
           stop acyclovir when the CSF PCR result is negative.   Patient consent
           The 2012  ABN guidelines  recommend  that aciclovir   There is no patient involved.
           might be stopped in immunocompetent patients, if:
           (a) an alternative diagnosis  has been made, or (b)   Ethics approval
           HSV  PCR  in  the  CSF  is  negative  on  two  occasions   This article does not contain any studies with human
           in a 24-48 h period and MRI is not characteristic for   participants or animals.
           HSV  encephalitis,  or  (c)  HSV  PCR  in  the  CSF  is
           negative once after 72 h from neurological symptoms   REFERENCES
           appearance,  with unaltered  consciousness,  normal
           MRI (performed after 72 h from symptoms appearance)   1.   Whitley  RJ. Herpes simplex  virus. In: Scheld  WM,  Whitley  RJ,
           and with white cell count in the CSF less than 5 × 10 /L   Durack DT, editors. Infections of the central nervous system. 2nd ed.
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           combination of acyclovir with other antiherpetic drugs is   Protection  Agency (HPA)  Aetiology of Encephalitis  Study Group.
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           benefit. [29]                                         of British Neurologists and British Infection  Association National
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           Up to  date, there is  a common belief that  no other   4.   Aurelius E, Johansson B, Sköldenberg B, Forsgren M. Encephalitis in
           drugs can replace ACV for the treatment of HSE and    immunocompetent patients due to herpes simplex virus type 1 or 2 as
           drug combinations are not recommended.                determined by type-specific polymerase chain reaction and antibody
                                                                 assays of cerebrospinal fluid. J Med Virol 1993;39:179-86.
           PROSPECTS                                          5.   Miller S, Mateen FJ, Aksamit AJ Jr. Herpes simplex virus 2 meningitis:
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                                                              6.   Sureka J, Jakkani RK. Clinico-radiological  spectrum  of bilateral
           Although ACV treatment in HSE is very effective, patient   temporal  lobe  hyperintensity:  a  retrospective  review.  Br  J  Radiol
           mortality is still approximately 14-19% and 45-60% of the   2012;85:e782-92.
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           In  this context,  there is  an urgent clinical need for   9.   Kamei S. Cognitive impairment in patients with bacterial meningitis
                                                                 and encephalitides. Brain Nerve 2016;68:317-27. (in Japanese)
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