What are Mollaret cells?
Mollaret cells are activated monocytes with convoluted nuclear lobes and abundant cytoplasm with pseudopods that account for their typical “footprint” or “cloverleaf” shapes.
How to diagnose Mollaret’s meningitis?
The diagnosis typically involves detecting herpes simplex virus DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid, which is collected during a lumbar puncture (spinal tap). This test can diagnosis other types of meningitis as well.
How common is Mollaret’s meningitis?
Recurrent or Mollaret meningitis is an extremely rare clinical entity defined as three or more episodes of aseptic meningitis.
What is recurrent meningitis?
Recurrent meningitis is meningitis that occurs more than once. Meningitis is inflammation of the layers of tissue that cover the brain and spinal cord (meninges) and of the fluid-filled space between the meninges (subarachnoid space).
What is lymphocytic Pleocytosis?
Lymphocytic pleocytosis is an abnormal increase in the amount of lymphocytes in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
How is Mollaret meningitis treated?
Treatment. Acyclovir is the treatment of choice for Mollaret’s meningitis. Some patients see a drastic difference in how often they get sick and others don’t. Often treatment means managing symptoms, such as pain management and strengthening the immune system.
What is recurrent lymphocytic meningitis?
Recurrent lymphocytic meningitis (RLM) is a rare disease, characterized by attacks of sudden onset aseptic meningitis followed by complete recovery and unpredictable recurrences.
What is the rarest form of meningitis?
Fungal meningitis is a rare type of meningitis. It’s caused by a fungus that infects your body and then spreads from your bloodstream to your brain or spinal cord. People with a weakened immune system are more likely to develop fungal meningitis.
What is lymphocytic meningitis?
Recurrent benign lymphocytic meningitis is typically a recurring, innocuous, painful form of aseptic meningitis. It is usually caused by herpes simplex virus type 2, which can be confirmed by detection of viral DNA in the CSF using polymerase chain reaction.
Why does meningitis keep coming back?
If one episode of meningitis was caused by a drug, meningitis may recur if people take the drug again. Meningitis caused by rupture of a brain cyst may also recur. These cysts are diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and/or spinal cord or, if MRI is unavailable, computed tomography (CT).
What are the two types of meningitis?
Types of meningitis
- Viral meningitis. Viral meningitis is the most common type of meningitis.
- Bacterial meningitis. Bacterial meningitis is contagious and caused by infection from certain bacteria.
- Fungal meningitis. Fungal meningitis is a rare type of meningitis.
- Parasitic meningitis.
- Non-infectious meningitis.
What do Mollaret cells look like in cytology?
Cytology. Mollaret cells – described as monocytoid cells (look like monocytes – but do not phagocytose), and large endothelial cells. Features – large cells with: abundant cytoplasm, footprint-shaped” nucleus. Mollaret cells not pathognomonic. Mixed population of inflammatory cells (PMNs, monocytes, plasma cells,…
What kind of DNA is found in Mollaret’s meningitis?
Cohen et al. (1994) reported the identification of HSV-2 DNA in the CSF of patients with Mollaret’s meningitis associated with the presence of Mollaret cells in the CSF. Whether to treat patients during the acute attacks remains an open question.
Are there ghost cells in Mollaret’s meningitis?
A recent cytomorphological analysis of CSF samples from 14 patients with Mollaret’s meningitis demonstrated CSF cells with deeply lobated or clefted nuclei. 34 So-called “ghost cells” (friable cells with partially degenerated cellular structures), neutrophils, and plasma cells were found in half of these samples.
Is the protein level normal for Mollaret meningitis?
Further ultrastructural and immunohistochemical studies suggest that these cells are of monocyte-macrophage lineage. 49 The protein level is moderately increased, and glucose concentration is normal or slightly decreased. Several etiologies have been postulated for Mollaret meningitis.