HSV-1 is known to cause a range of infections like herpes labialis, keratitis, encephelitis. It was recently implicated in Alzheimer's disease.
Are these infections associated with significant morbidity in your clinical experience?
Herpetic stromal keratitis is the most frequent cause of corneal blindness in the world, and the most common source of infectious blindness in the western world. Encephalitis (while really rare) can definitely be associated with significant morbidity. HSV-1 is also one of those rare pathogens with the ability to cause vertical transmission in utero, and can cause hydrops fetalis to the developing embryo. On the other hand, HSV-1 seropositivity is incredibly common and the rate of these serious complications is rather low compared to the rate of people infected--upwards of 90% of individuals have dormant or active HSV!
Herpes simplex encephalitis (Haemorrhagic Temporal Encephalitis) with inflammation of both hypocampus is frequently associated with amnestic syndroma. After acute phase possiblle is relativ good reparation (without big residual symptoms) or developing of subacute or chronic dementia.
Thanks a lot Javier and Nikola. What tests do you recommend to check dormant or seropositive state? IgG? IgM? or both? Are there more accurate tests to do to confirm diagnosis?
Hi you all, I think you would need both IgG and IgM, if not positive DNA or culture test also. However, to my knowledge there is no specific HSV- antibody test available. Only non-specific HSV and HSV-2 IgM is known as far as I know.
It casues a diseas known herpes, Virus beolngs to family herpesviridae. both Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2). Infection with the herpes virus is categorized into one of several distinct disorders based on the site of infection. Oral herpes, the visible symptoms of which are colloquially called 'cold sores' or 'fever blisters' This is an infection of the face or mouth. Oral herpes is the most common form of infection. Genital herpes, known simply as 'herpes', is the second-most common form of herpes. Other disorders such as herpetic whitlow, herpes gladiatorum, ocular herpes, cerebral herpes infection encephalitis, Mollaret's meningitis, neonatal herpes, and possibly Bell's palsy, are all caused by herpes simplex viruses. Virus shows diffreent antigenic invasions of human cells and show diverse modes of infection. Clinically virus coat proteins as well as enzymes share more than 90 % homology with other viruses. It also provide chances of opportunistic infections in man.
HSV1 infection is more severe in the neonate when vertical transmission occurs than is HSV2. Genital herpes can be caused by either of course, and with sexual practices evolving, is becoming increasingly more incriminated in genital outbreaks
Herpes simplex HSV1 is common oral sore .It could be easily transmissible after sex and genital herpes is HSV2.Bells palsy is common due to HSV1 which is managed with steroids and acyclovir .Vitamin B12 and Physiotherapy is useful in the treatment.
for active infection, check fluid/tissue in question with qPCR.
IgM+ in acute infection
IgM remains, but IgG arises in latent/dormant infection (all that makes sense)
However, reactivation/dormancy is not Ab mediated. Herpesviruses erupt like crazy in patients with T cell immunosuppression -- see AIDS.
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