Acute encephalopathy associated with human metapneumovirus infection.

We encountered a 3.5-year-old girl with acute encephalopathy associated with human metapneumovirus (hMPV) infection. She had pyrexia and status epilepticus, followed by a coma. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed no pleocytosis or elevation of protein levels. hMPV RNA was detected in tracheal aspirate. Acute encephalopathy in the patient was probably related to the hMPV infection. Serum levels of interleukin-6 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 were elevated on admission, and these factors were presumed to be related to acute encephalopathy, associated with her viral infection, or due to status epilepticus. She was treated with dexamethasone pulse therapy, intravenous immunoglobulin, and continuous thiopental infusion. She recovered without neurological sequelae.