YOU ARE NOW CONNECTED TO THE TOXLINE (1981 FORWARD, NON-ROYALTY) FILE. ==ENCEPHALITIS, VIRAL== 4 AUTHOR Wintergerst U AUTHOR Belohradsky BH TITLE Acyclovir monotherapy versus acyclovir plus beta-interferon in focal viral encephalitis in children. SOURCE Infection; VOL 20, ISS 4, 1992, P207-12 ABSTRACT Severe focal viral encephalitis is most commonly caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV), but other viruses may act as etiologic agents as well. Acyclovir (ACV) is the standard therapy for HSV encephalitis, but the mortality of 28% and defect healing rate of about 35% are still unsatisfactory. Furthermore, ACV has virtually no effect on other pathogens of viral encephalitis, except for varicella-zoster virus (VZV). It is well known that beta-interferon (beta-IFN) has a broad antiviral spectrum, and it has been demonstrated in vitro that beta-IFN in combination with acyclovir has synergistic inhibitory effects on HSV. To investigate if the combination of ACV with and without beta-IFN might also be of significance for the treatment of severe viral encephalitis, we performed a retrospective study. A case record form was sent to all 278 West German children's hospitals. The response rate was 78%. A total of 301 patients were reported, of whom 214 received specific antiviral therapy with either ACV alone (n = 179) or ACV plus beta-IFN (n = 35). No overall differences between ACV monotherapy and the combination therapy were observed. However, in a subgroup of 41 patients (ACV n = 30, ACV plus beta-IFN n = 11) who had low-density areas of the temporal lobes on cranial computed tomography scans, compatible with severe focal encephalitis, sequelae due to defect formation and mortality were significantly (p = 0.014) reduced in patients who had received combination therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) 35 AUTHOR Balfour HH Jr TITLE Acyclovir and other chemotherapy for herpes group viral infections. SOURCE Annu Rev Med; VOL 35, 1984, P279-91 (REF: 46) ABSTRACT The recent profusion of antiviral research has resulted in significant advances toward prevention and treatment of herpes group virus infections. The most promising new agent is acyclovir, which is available in topical, intravenous, and oral formulations. Results of clinical trials of acyclovir for prevention and treatment of herpes simplex, varicella-zoster virus, cytomegalovirus, and Epstein-Barr virus infections are discussed, and the potential problem of antiviral resistance considered. Vidarabine therapy is reviewed briefly, and future new drugs with activity against herpesviruses are mentioned. 36 AUTHOR Narayan O AUTHOR Herzog S AUTHOR Frese K AUTHOR Scheefers H AUTHOR Rott R TITLE Pathogenesis of Borna disease in rats: immune-mediated viral ophthalmoencephalopathy causing blindness and behavioral abnormalities. SOURCE J Infect Dis; VOL 148, ISS 2, 1983, P305-15 ABSTRACT Borna disease virus is an unclassified agent that causes a rare but fatal encephalitis in horses in Germany. In experimental animals the virus causes acute fatal encephalitis in some instances and chronic encephalitis with abnormal behavior in others. In initial studies of the pathogenesis of the latter disease in rats, the virus was shown to replicate only in the nervous system, with the greatest concentration of infectivity in the cerebrum and eyes. Viral replication continued indefinitely in both newborn and adult rats. The adult animals developed self-limiting, necrotizing encephalitis in the cerebrum, with inflammation spreading to the retina. Inflammation receded after two months, however, with concomitant cessation of necrosis; static hydrocephalus was observed at this point. Levels of viral replication were unaffected by these changes. Rats became frenzied and aggressive during the encephalitic period but became permanently passive and inactive after inflammation receded. Infected neonates and immunosuppressed adults did not become ill. The frenzied behavior and subsequent blindness in immunocompetent adults were therefore attributed to a uniquely transient immunopathologic reaction targeted to centers in the limbic system and retinal neurons.