Detection of Antibodies to Herpes Simplex Virus in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients with Herpes Simplex Encephalitis

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum specimens from patients with presumed herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) were characterized for antibodies to herpes simplex virus (HSV) by immunoblot and other immunoassays. Specimens from patients proven to have HSE (biopsy-proven) were compared with those from p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of infectious diseases 1987-01, Vol.155 (1), p.38-44
Main Authors: Kahlon, Jasbir, Chatterjee, Subhendra, Lakeman, Fred D., Lee, Frances, Nahmias, Andre J., Whitley, Richard J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adenoviruses
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Antibodies
Antibodies, Viral - cerebrospinal fluid
Antigens
Biological and medical sciences
Biopsies
Biopsy
Brain - pathology
Cerebrospinal fluid
Child
Encephalitis
Encephalitis - cerebrospinal fluid
Encephalitis - immunology
Encephalitis - pathology
Herpes Simplex - cerebrospinal fluid
Herpes Simplex - immunology
Herpes Simplex - pathology
herpes simplex virus
Human viral diseases
Humans
Immunologic Techniques
Infections
Infectious diseases
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Original Articles
Simplexvirus
Simplexvirus - immunology
Specimens
Viral diseases
Viral diseases of the nervous system
Viral Envelope Proteins - immunology
Viruses
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Description
Summary:Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum specimens from patients with presumed herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) were characterized for antibodies to herpes simplex virus (HSV) by immunoblot and other immunoassays. Specimens from patients proven to have HSE (biopsy-proven) were compared with those from patients with other diseases diagnosed by brain biopsy (biopsy-negative for HSV). Immunoblot of CSF demonstrated that antibodies to HSV-specific polypeptides, particularly to glycoprotein B, were present in a matched serum specimen. When purified glycoprotein B was used to detect CSF antibodies, 34 of 35 specimens from biopsy-proven patients were reactive (97% sensitivity) compared with only six of 22 specimens obtained from biopsy-negative patients (73% specificity). If leakage of antibodies to a marker virus (adenovirus) was determined and controlled, the specificity increased to 100%. These diagnostic assays provide useful tools for the retrospective assessment of CSF specimens obtained from patients with presumed HSE.
ISSN:0022-1899
1537-6613
DOI:10.1093/infdis/155.1.38