Limbic Encephalitis Associated with Human Herpesvirus-7 (HHV-7) in an Immunocompetent Adult: The First Reported Case in Japan

A 35-year-old male who had not previously suffered any major illnesses was admitted to our hospital because of general fatigue, fever, headache, vomiting, consciousness disturbance, and seizures. A neurological examination showed that he was in a semi-comatose state and exhibited neck stiffness. Brain magnetic resonance imaging detected high-intensity areas in the bilateral hippocampi and periventricular white matter. A cerebrospinal fluid examination revealed mononuclear pleocytosis, an elevated protein level, and positivity for human herpesvirus-7 (HHV-7) DNA. The patient's condition improved after the administration of methylprednisolone, intravenous immunoglobulins, and acyclovir. This is the first known case of limbic encephalitis associated with HHV-7 in an immunocompetent Japanese adult.