A case of recurrent benign lymphocytic (Mollaret's) meningitis and review of the literature

P J Poulikakos; E E Sergi; A S Margaritis; A G Kioumourtzis; G D Kanellopoulos; P K Mallios; D J Dimitrakis; D J Poulikakos; A A Aspiotis; A D Deliousis; C P Flevaris; A K Zacharof

doi:10.1016/j.jiph.2010.09.006

A case of recurrent benign lymphocytic (Mollaret's) meningitis and review of the literature

J Infect Public Health. 2010 Dec;3(4):192-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jiph.2010.09.006. Epub 2010 Nov 9.

Authors

P J Poulikakos¹, E E Sergi, A S Margaritis, A G Kioumourtzis, G D Kanellopoulos, P K Mallios, D J Dimitrakis, D J Poulikakos, A A Aspiotis, A D Deliousis, C P Flevaris, A K Zacharof

Affiliation

¹ 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Hellenic Red Cross Hospital, 1 Athanasaki st, 11526 Athens, Greece. panpoulikakos@yahoo.gr

PMID: 21126724
DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2010.09.006

Abstract

Mollaret's meningitis is a rare form of benign recurrent aseptic meningitis first described in 1944. We report a case of Mollaret's meningitis due to Herpes Simplex Virus type 2 (HSV2), diagnosed with Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) implementation in the Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of the patient and treated successfully with acyclovir. To our knowledge, this is the first case of Mollaret's meningitis reported in Greece. We reviewed the literature since PCR has become widely available. Herpes Simplex Virus type 2 has been the most commonly identified causative agent of Mollaret's meningitis.

Publication types

Case Reports
Review

MeSH terms

Acyclovir / therapeutic use
Adult
Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
DNA, Viral / cerebrospinal fluid
Female
Greece
Herpesvirus 2, Human / genetics
Herpesvirus 2, Human / isolation & purification*
Humans
Meningitis
Meningitis, Aseptic / diagnosis*
Meningitis, Aseptic / drug therapy
Meningitis, Aseptic / virology*
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Recurrence

Substances

Antiviral Agents
DNA, Viral
Acyclovir