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Postinfectious myeloradiculoneuropathy with cranial nerve involvements associated with human herpesvirus 7 infection.

Mihara T, Mutoh T, Yoshikawa T, Yano S, Asano Y, Yamamoto H

Department of Neurology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan.

BACKGROUND: Infection with human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) generally results in a febrile illness with accompanying exanthema subitum. OBJECTIVES: To ascertain and describe the role of HHV-7 in a case of acute myeloradiculoneuropathy. PATIENT: A previously healthy young man with complaints of motor weakness, dysphasia, and nasal voice. METHODS: Serological examinations were performed with the patient's serum. We also examined virus genome DNA in cerebrospinal fluid by regular and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Moreover, we checked the antiganglioside antibody level in the patient's serum samples by the immunoblot analysis. RESULTS: Serological studies revealed significant change in titers of antibodies against cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and HHV-7, but only HHV-7 genome was detected in the cerebrospinal fluid, with its disappearance after therapy. No antiganglioside antibody was detected in the patient's serum. CONCLUSION: The unique clinical picture of the present patient might be closely related to the reactivation of HHV-7 in the nervous system.

Published 15 November 2005 in Arch Neurol, 62(11): 1755-7.
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