Early intrathecal production of specific IgM and IgG antibodies and alpha-interferon in herpes simplex virus encephalitis.

A complex approach was used in order to establish non-invasively the aetiology in three cases of encephalitis presumptively caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV). As indicative of brain HSV infection was considered the lowered serum to cerebrospinal fluid specific antibody ratio, which also assessed the humoral immune response within the CNS. For this purpose, during ongoing brain tissue infection, the early intrathecal (ITH) production of IgG and IgM antibodies was analysed by a differential enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) along with changing levels of complement-fixing (CF) antibodies in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Antiviral antibody (AA) response was markedly preceded by the appearance of alpha-interferon (IFN) in the serum and CSF. From the CNS biopsy and autopsy specimens one HSV-1 and one HSV-2 strain were recovered.