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Biomedical subjects

P G E Kennedy

Publications and source records attributed to P G E Kennedy.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Viral encephalitis: a review of diagnostic methods and guidelines for management.

Viral encephalitis is a medical emergency. The spectrum of brain involvement and the prognosis are dependent mainly on the specific pathogen and the immunological state of the host. Although specific therapy is limited to only several viral agents, correct immediate diagnosis and introduction of symptomatic and specific therapy has a dramatic influence upon survival and reduces the extent of permanent brain injury in survivors. We searched MEDLINE (National Library of Medicine) for relevant literature from 1966 to May 2004. Review articles and book chapters were also included. Recommendations are based on this literature based on our judgment of the relevance of the references to the subject. Recommendations were reached by consensus. Where there was lack of evidence but consensus was clear we have stated our opinion as good practice points. Diagnosis should be based on medical history, examination followed by analysis of cerebrospinal fluid for protein and glucose contents, cellular analysis and identification of the pathogen by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification (recommendation level A) and serology (recommendation level B). Neuroimaging, preferably by magnetic resonance imaging, is an essential aspect of evaluation (recommendation level B). Lumbar puncture can follow neuroimaging when immediately available, but if this cannot be obtained at the shortest span of time it should be delayed only in the presence of strict contraindications. Brain biopsy should be reserved only for unusual and diagnostically difficult cases. All encephalitis cases must be hospitalized with an access to intensive care units. Supportive therapy is an important basis of management. Specific, evidence-based, anti-viral therapy, acyclovir, is available for herpes encephalitis (recommendation level A). Acyclovir might also be effective for varicella-zoster virus encephalitis, gancyclovir and foscarnet for cytomegalovirus encephalitis and pleconaril for enterovirus encephalitis (IV class of evidence). Corticosteroids as an adjunct treatment for acute viral encephalitis are not generally considered to be effective and their use is controversial. Surgical decompression is indicated for impending uncal herniation or increased intracranial pressure refractory to medical management.

Central Nervous System↗
PubMed2004

Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of neurological complications of HIV infection.

The spectrum of neurological complications of HIV-infection has remained unchanged through the years, but its epidemiology changed remarkably as a result of the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of cerebral toxoplasmosis, cryptococcal meningitis, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, CMV encephalitis, CMV polyradiculomyelitis, tuberculous meningitis, primary CNS lymphoma, HIV dementia, HIV myelopathy and HIV polyneuropathy are given with a grading of evidence and recommendations.

Anti-HIV Agents↗
PubMed2003

Neurovirological methods and their applications.

Over the last 30 years neurovirology has emerged as a major discipline which has much relevance to both human disease and many aspects of neuroscience. This overview of the field aims to define briefly most of the major neurovirological techniques, both "classical" and more recent, and to indicate how these have been used to gain knowledge about the pathogenesis, clinical investigation, and treatment of viral infections of the central nervous system.

Disease Models, Animal↗
PubMed2002

Diagnosis and treatment of viral encephalitis.

Acute encephalitis constitutes a medical emergency. In most cases, the presence of focal neurological signs and focal seizures will distinguish encephalitis from encephalopathy. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis is a non-infective inflammatory encephalitis that may require to be treated with steroids. Acute infective encephalitis is usually viral. Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) is the commonest sporadic acute viral encephalitis in the Western world. Magnetic resonance imaging of brain is the investigation of choice in HSE and the diagnosis may be confirmed by the polymerase chain reaction test for the virus in the cerebrospinal fluid. In this article, we review the diagnosis, investigations, and management of acute encephalitis. With few exceptions (for example, aciclovir for HSE), no specific therapy is available for most forms of viral encephalitis. Mortality and morbidity may be high and long term sequelae are known among survivors. The emergence of unusual forms of zoonotic encephalitis has posed an important public health problem. Vaccination and vector control measures are useful preventive strategies in certain arboviral and zoonotic encephalitis. However, we need better antiviral therapy to meet the challenge of acute viral encephalitis more effectively.

Acute Disease↗