[Persistence of herpetic inflammation of the central nervous system four years after an episode of acute encephalitis (author's transl)].

A patient was followed up for four years after an acute episode of encephalitis attributed to herpes because of the clinical and EEG features, the high serum antiherpetic antibody titers, the temporofrontal site of the lesions as shown by CT Scan. The clinical sequelae were non evolutive and the serum antiherpetic antibody titers remained at the same level (1/128) from the 10th day on. The CSF showed continuing pleiocytosis and slight elevation of protein with an increased proportion of IgG; moreover, four years later, the CSF antiherpetic antibody titers were elevated (1/16). These findings suggest that local production of antibody within the CNS may persist after acute herpetic infection.