Key result
Antiepileptic treatment resolves status epilepticus and cognitive deficits in an 82-year-old with parechovirus encephalitis.
Why the study?
Adult-onset human parechovirus encephalitis is extremely rare, with no cases previously reported in Japan.
Case Report (n=1)
No
Adult-onset human parechovirus encephalitis can present with status epilepticus, absence of pleocytosis, and reversible cognitive deficits, highlighting the utility of multiplex PCR testing.
May present as SE in elderly diabetics; leaves open incidence, risk factors, and testing indications for adult HPeV encephalitis.
Adult-onset human parechovirus (HPeV) encephalitis is extremely rare. We report the first case of HPeV encephalitis in Japan in an 82-year-old man with diabetes, who presented with an impaired consciousness and status epilepticus (SE). A cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed a normal cell count with elevated protein levels. Magnetic resonance imaging showed hyperintense signals in the thalamus and parietal lobe, and HPeV type 3 was detected in the CSF. SE resolved following antiepileptic treatment, and the patient's cognitive function recovered. Adult HPeV encephalitis may present with SE, an absence of pleocytosis, and "reversible" cognitive deficits, highlighting the diagnostic utility of multiplex polymerase chain reaction testing in encephalitis without pleocytosis.
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Sakuma et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Adult-onset human parechovirus (HPeV) encephalitis (n=1). Antiepileptic treatment and supportive care was evaluated on Clinical recovery. An 82-year-old man with adult-onset human parechovirus type 3 encephalitis successfully recovered from status epilepticus and cognitive deficits following antiepileptic treatment.
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