Cytarabine Treatment of Herpes Simplex Encephalitis

Abstract

A patient with herpes simplex encephalitis whose infection was documented by both viral cultures from biopsy material and later with a rise in complement fixation titers was treated with cytarabine (cytosine arabinoside). Marked clinical improvement was temporarily related to the therapy. Cytarabine has certain advantages over the more generally used idoxuridine. These include the practical consideration of the availability of cytarabine, its ease of administration, and lesser toxicity.