Therapeutic Plasma Exchange for Murray Valley Encephalitis: A Case Report and Review of Clinical Features, Diagnosis, and Challenges in Management

We report the case of a 62-year-old male who presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with altered mental status following a motor vehicle accident. He was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with worsening of his neurological status and subsequently diagnosed with Murray Valley encephalitis: a serious but rare condition caused by infection with Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV). He continued to deteriorate despite treatment with antivirals, glucocorticoids, and therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) in addition to supportive care and eventually succumbed to his illness. In this report, we review the clinical course, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and characteristic radiological features of Murray Valley encephalitis and highlight the challenges in treating this potentially devastating disease.