Acute recurrent lymphocytic meningitis in an immunocompetent HIV-positive African woman: Is it a Mollaret’s meningitis or not?

Abstract

We report a case of acute recurrent meningitis in an HIV-positive immunocompetent woman. In this case, a 34-year-old African woman with a known HIV infection presented with symptoms of acute meningitis. She was on combination antiretroviral therapy with abacavir, lamivudine, and nevirapine. Her HIV RNA level was <70 IU/mL, and CD4 counts were 640 cells/mm 3 . This indicates that she was not immunocompromised. She was febrile on examination, with marked neck stiffness. Her cerebrospinal fluid revealed raised white cell counts with 100% lymphocytes and mildly raised protein. Polymerase chain reaction confirmed herpes simplex type 2 meningitis. She recovered fully with aciclovir 800 mg three times a day. However, she was readmitted with a similar presentation 5 months after the initial admission. Her cerebrospinal fluid confirmed recurrent herpes simplex type 2 meningitis. This case alerts the profession to the possibility of non-opportunistic infections in an immunocompetent HIV-positive patient and of herpes simplex virus type 2 causing recurrent lymphocytic meningitis.