Table 1 causes of an aseptic meningitis cerebrospinal fluid picture in this article, the major causes of meningitis are considered in turn, highlighting the difficulties which may arise under these three headings. Analysis of candidatehost immunogenetic determinants in. Looking for online definition of mollaret meningitis in the medical dictionary. Herpes simplex virus type 2associated recurrent aseptic. This syndrome is associated with transient neurological symptoms in onehalf of afflicted patients. We report a case of mollaret meningitis in a sevenyearold girl who presented with four aseptic meningitis episodes in one year. Looking for online definition of mollaret syndrome in the medical dictionary. A tentative diagnosis of mollaret s meningitis was established after the third episode. Mollarets meningitis is a recurrent or chronic inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. Mollaret s meningitis is a rare disease characterized by recurrent, selflimited episodes of aseptic meningitis. Recurrent lymphocytic meningitis positive for herpes. Common signs and symptoms during an episode may include severe headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light photophobia, and stiff neck.
Patients typically experience episodes of fever and meningism of abrupt onset lasting 34 days. Since mollaret s meningitis is a recurrent, benign noncancerous, aseptic meningitis, it is also referred to as benign recurrent lymphocytic meningitis. Mollarets meningitis is an unusual and underappreciated syndrome of benign, recurrent aseptic meningitis. Should mollarets meningitis always be treated with antihsv. It has been suggested that if the strict criteria above are followed, these cases should be excluded, and the term mollaret s meningitis reserved for true idiopathic cases. Mollaret meningitis synonyms, mollaret meningitis antonyms. Cranial computed tomography performed during the acute phase of the initial episode was normal, but, after the. In the original description of three patients with recurrent episodes of meningitis over a 15year period, the csf was notable for a leukocytosis and an unusual cell type originally thought to be of endothelial origin. The syndrome of benign recurrent aseptic meningitis of unknown cause is called mollaret s meningitis. Find mollarets meningitis information, treatments for mollarets meningitis and mollarets meningitis symptoms. Mollarets meningitis and herpes simplex virus type 2. Mollaret meningitis genetic and rare diseases information. A patient who initially presented with clinical and laboratory signs of bacterial meningitis developed four more similar episodes within a 6month period.
Mollaret meningitis was first described by mollaret in 1944 as a form of aseptic meningitis. A rare form of aseptic meningitis characterized by a recurrent pattern with symptomfree intervals between episodes. As stated by many authors, mollarets meningitis should only be referred to recurrent aseptic meningitis with unknown aetiology after throughout studies including molecular tehcniques. Mollarets meningitis benign recurrent aseptic meningitis. With the suspicion of mollaret s meningitis a new lumbar puncture was performed and csf was sent for pathologic examination showing the presence of large mononuclear cells. Jan 25, 2019 mollaret meningitis is a type of meningitis due to a viral infection aseptic meningitis that occurs multiple times. Mollaret meningitis journal of the neurological sciences. The disease is characterised by recurrent at least three episodes, benign no longterm sequelae.
Recurrent lymphocytic meningitis rlm is a rare disease, characterized by attacks of sudden onset aseptic meningitis followed by complete recovery and unpredictable recurrences. Mollarets recurrent aseptic meningitis and cerebral. Rosenberg, in cerebrospinal fluid in clinical practice, 2009. Nov 01, 2006 recurrent benign lymphocytic meningitis is a recurring, typically innocuous, painful form of aseptic meningitis. Recurrent herpes simplex type 2 virus mollaret meningitis jabfm. Mollarets meningitis is a rare condition with a characteristic clinical and cerebrospinal fluid picture. Mollarets meningitis the lancet infectious diseases. Mollaret s meningitis is an unusual but perhaps underappreciated syndrome of benign, recurrent, aseptic meningitis. Jan 01, 2000 mollarets meningitis is an unusual but perhaps underappreciated syndrome of benign, recurrent, aseptic meningitis. Mollaret s meningitis is felt to be rareso if you ve got a client with confirmed mollaret s. In as many as one third of cases, no cause is found. Pdf mollarets meningitis is a rare disease characterized by recurrent and self limited episodes of lymphocytic.
Herpes simplex virus type 2associated recurrent aseptic mollaret s meningitis in genitourinary medicine clinic. Mollaret was the first to describe a rare form of meningitis that presented as recurrent and brief selflimiting attacks of fever, headache, vomiting, and. Mollarets meningitis and herpes simplex virus type 2 infections. Mollarets meningitis is caused by herpes simplex virus. Mollarets meningitis is a rare disease characterized by recurrent, selflimited episodes of aseptic meningitis. It is characterized by repeated episodes of meningitis. The disease is characterized by repeated episodes of. Herpes simplex type 2 virus is the causative agent in virtually all cases.
Get a printable copy pdf file of the complete article 869k. Is mollarets meningitis caused by herpes simplex virus type 2. The 35yearold praised simon read and matthew laws from the east of england ambulance service nhs trust eeast for their care after her condition rapidly deteriorated. Difficult and recurrent meningitis journal of neurology. Apr 19, 2014 the community has truly come to feel like a family, somewhere i can be open, honest and myself. In recent years there has been increasing evidence to implicate the herpes simplex virus 2 hsv2 in many cases. Mollaret s meningitis is caused by herpes simplex virus.
Mollarets meningitis and herpes simplex virus type 1 nejm. When initially described, this form of aseptic meningitis had no identifiable infecting. Mollaret meningitis definition of mollaret meningitis by. For me it has taken the battle out of my head and instead to somewhere i. Check the full list of possible causes and conditions now.
Mollaret meningitis, recurrent aseptic meningitis, fever. Mollaret meningitis article about mollaret meningitis by. Benign recurrent aseptic meningitis mollarets meningitis. Benign recurrent aseptic meningitis is a rare disorder described by mollaret in 1944. Broadly speaking, there are three main potential areas of concern. In many ways it resembles recurrent hereditary polyserositis. The peripheral white blood cell count alone is not help. Ideal sources for wikipedias health content are defined in the guideline wikipedia. Mollaret s meningitis and differential diagnosis of recurrent meningitis. Objective to evaluate cognitive outcome in unselected patients with previously diagnosed viral meningitis.
Mollarets meningitis is an unusual but perhaps underappreciated syndrome of benign, recurrent, aseptic meningitis. Mollarets meningitisrecurrent aseptic meningitishsv2 virus. Should mollarets meningitis always be treated with anti. The features of these activated monocytes were compatible with those of mollarets cells, and csf herpes simplex virus type 2 hsv2 pcr assay. This may not be the complete list of references from this article. Sep 02, 2016 mollaret meningitis is thought to be rare. We found the prevalence of recurrent lymphocytic meningitis associated with herpes simplex virus type 2 hsv2 was 2. Mollaret was the first to describe a rare form of meningitis that presented as recurrent and brief selflimiting attacks of fever, headache, vomiting, and meningeal irritation with no obvious etiology. Mollaret s meningitis also referred to as recurrent benign lymphocytic meningitis, is characterized by a transient and recurrent onset of neurological symptoms such as headaches, fever, meningismus and various neurological deficits that last for a few days in a selflimiting fashion. Definition of mollaret syndrome in the medical dictionary by the free dictionary. Mollaret s meningitis has been characterized by unique abnormalities found on serial csf examinations. Abstractmollarets meningitis is a rare disease characterized by recurrent and selflimited. When can the management of meningitis become difficult. It is characterized by repeated episodes of meningitis, typically lasting two to five days, occurring weeks to years apart.
Mollaret meningitis genetic and rare diseases information center. Mollarets meningitis also referred to as recurrent benign lymphocytic meningitis, is characterized by a transient and recurrent onset of neurological symptoms such as headaches, fever. Recurrent aseptic meningitis secondary to intracranial epidermoid cyst and mollarets meningitis. The disease is characterized by repeated episodes of fever and signs of meningeal inflammation that usually subside within 25 days after onset. The community has truly come to feel like a family, somewhere i can be open, honest and myself. Kinohshita t, matsushima a, satoh s, et al 2014 a case of colchicineresponsive mollarets meningitis with mefv gene mutation. Herpes simplex virus type 2associated recurrent aseptic mollarets. Mollarets meningitis mm is a rare disease of benign nature characterized by recurrent episodes of aseptic meningitis. Recurrent lymphocytic meningitis positive for herpes simplex. Fulltext pdf recurrent aseptic meningitis with reversible cerebral vasoconstriction.
Mollarets meningitis should be suspected in all cases of recurrent lymphocytic meningitis. Cases of idiopathic recurrent benign aseptic meningitis were first described by. Mild cognitive impairment after viral meningitis in adults. Chronic and recurrent meningitis practical neurology. Chronic meningitis is defined as the persistence of clinical symptoms and signs of meningitis, with or without abnormal cerebrospinal fluid, for more than four weeks. Pdf herpes simplex virus type 2 mollarets meningitis. Herpes simplex virus type 2 has been the most commonly identified causative agent of mollarets meningitis.
The disease is characterised by recurrent at least three episodes, benign no longterm sequelae and brief 25 day episodes of aseptic lymphocytic meningitis, alternating with symptomfree interval, mostly caused by hsv2 infection. Mollarets meningitis international journal of infectious diseases. Mollaret syndrome definition of mollaret syndrome by. In the remainder, infective, neoplastic and socalled aseptic disorders may be identified. We present a case of a 27yearold woman with mollarets meningitis related to viral infection with herpes simplex virus type 2 confirmed by cerebrospinal fluid. Mollarets meningitis an overview sciencedirect topics. Early diagnosis may prevent prolonged hospital admissions. Mollaret s meningitis is characterized by recurrent episodes of severe headache, meningismus, and fever. Possible causes include generalized herpes simplex. The disease is most often caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 hsv2 and less frequently by other viruses, autoimmune disorders, or medication.
For me it has taken the battle out of my head and instead to somewhere i can get advice or simply tell about my daily struggles and triumphs. Until recently, this syndrome had been considered a disease of unknown etiology. Methods twentyone unselected patients were examined. Because of its rarity, it is difficult to estimate the exact number of individuals affected by this condition. Mollaret meningitis is a rare form of meningitis that is recurrent. Mollarets meningitis is a rare form of idiopathic recurrent aseptic meningitis that has a sudden onset, short duration, and spontaneous remission. Diagnosis, initial management, and prevention of meningitis. Mollaret s meningitis is a recurrent or chronic inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. Important infective causes include partially treated bacterial pyogenic. In many ways it resembles recurrent hereditary polyserositis familial mediterranean fever in its natural history, pattern of attacks, and response to colchicine. Mollarets meningitis is a rare form of benign, recurrent aseptic.