Concomitant herpes simplex virus type 1 and cytomegalovirus ventriculoencephalitis in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Three patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) had combined infections of the central nervous system, with both herpes simplex virus (HSV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV). All three had a diffuse ventriculoencephalitis documented at postmortem examination. The presence of HSV type 1 and CMV was confirmed microscopically with immunohistochemistry. The clinical importance of these three patients is that they establish the presence of concomitant HSV and CMV encephalitis in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and suggests the possibility of therapeutic intervention with antiviral drugs that have activity against HSV and/or CMV.