Cerebral malakoplakia associated with neonatal herpes virus infection.

Cerebral malakoplakia has been recognized as a complication of probable neonatal herpes encephalitis and may be associated with persistent neurologic deficits including seizures. At autopsy, an eight-month-old boy had a discrete cystic gliotic lesion in his left inferior frontal lobe with malakoplakia. Perinatal herpetic cutaneous lesions were seen and were successfully treated with medication at two weeks of age. Subsequent discontinuation of his anti-epileptic drugs was followed by sudden unexpected death. Immunohistochemical stains and electron microscopy of his brain failed to reveal herpes simplex virus.