Mollaret's meningitis: CSF-immunocytological examinations

Abstract

Mollaret's meningitis is a rare clinical entity consisting of recurrent attacks of meningeal irritation, which, after a sudden onset, last for a few days. The prognosis appears to be excellent, although the aetiology has not been established. In the CSF so-called endothelial cells are a typical finding, but their classification is not yet clear. In the present case immunocytological examination of CSF cells revealed that the so-called Mollaret cells are monocytes. The time course of changes in helper/suppressor ratio is similar to that in other infectious diseases of the central nervous system.

Recurrent Herpes Simplex Type 2 Virus (Mollaret) Meningitis

“…4 Recurrent attacks of Mollaret meningitis usually resolve after a period of 3 to 5 years. 5 This patient fulfilled the criteria proposed by Bruyn et al 6 for the clinical diagnosis: recurrent attacks separated by symptom-free weeks or months, spontaneous remission of symptoms and signs, recurrent episodes of severe headache, meningismus, and fever. Clinical and pathologic evidence of infectious meningitis were absent.…”

A case of recurrent benign lymphocytic (Mollaret's) meningitis and review of the literature

“…There is a female to male predominance of approximately 13:7. In general, the episodes tend to reoccur in a period of days to years (median of 3-8 episodes) [2] and the syndrome usually resolves automatically after 3-5 years according to some studies [3].…”

“…Transient neurologic abnormalities may be present in 50% of patients. The onset of the disease has been observed from 5 to 83 year old patients [3], with a mean age of 35 years. There is a female to male predominance of approximately 13:7.…”

“…The CSF taken from these patients, 24 h after the onset of these recurrences, revealed leukocytosis containing many large mononuclear cells (Mollaret cells) that disappeared after a few days. Later immunocytological examination of CSF cells revealed that the so-called Mollaret cells are actually monocytes [3]. The CSF also initially showed polymorphonuclear cells that changed to predominately lymphocytes, while the other findings (glucose, protein) were consistent with aseptic meningitis [4].…”

Cytologic and Immunoenzymatic Findings in CSF from Patients with Tick-Borne Encephalitis

“…Modern cytochemical research has shown Mollaret cells to be mononuclear cells with an initially high and later decreasing helper/suppressor ratio. 9 We have had no experience with the cytochemical findings of Mollaret's meningitis.…”