Table 2 Clinical features among patients with encephalitis caused by EBV, with encephalitis not caused by EBV, and with encephalitis negative EBV

Age (years, median and IQR)

55.000 [43.500, 62.500]

52.000 [32.500, 61.500]

47.000 [28.250, 57.000]

<0.001

<0.001

<0.001

Gender (male, %)

28 (71.795)

35 (74.468)

180 (64.748)

0.973

0.492

0.256

Clinical manifestation (%)

 Consciousness disturbance

19 (48.718)

19 (40.426)

108 (38.849)

0.580

0.316

0.965

 Behavioral and psychological symptoms

6 (15.385)

16 (34.043)

85 (30.576)

0.084

0.076

0.761

 Seizure

5 (12.821)

9 (19.149)

62 (22.302)

0.618

0.251

0.770

 Mechanical ventilation

14 (35.897)

9 (19.149)

56 (20.144)

0.133

0.044

1.000

Immunocompromised (%)

0.725

0.001

0.031

 HIV

4 (10.256)

5 (10.638)

8 (2.878)

 Malignancy

1 (2.564)

2 (4.255)

7 (2.518)

 Immunosuppression for non-neoplastic condition

4 (10.256)

2 (4.255)

4 (1.439)

CSF features

 Cell counts (median and IQR)

70.000 [6.000, 140.000]

120.000 [41.000, 287.000]

37.500 [3.000, 157.500]

<0.001

<0.001

<0.001

 Proteins (g/L, median and IQR)

1.310 [0.695, 1.840]

1.310 [0.795, 2.375]

0.850 [0.450, 1.630]

<0.001

<0.001

<0.001

 Glucose (mmol/L, median and IQR)

3.030 [2.585, 3.640]

2.670 [1.425, 3.605]

3.290 [2.652, 4.008]

<0.001

<0.001

<0.001

 Chlorine (mmol/L, median and IQR)

119.000 [115.000, 125.000]

121.000 [115.000, 126.000]

123.000 [116.000, 127.750]

<0.001

<0.001

<0.001

 Leukocytosis (%)

32 (82.051)

40 (85.106)

200 (71.942)

0.929

0.254

0.085

 Proteins increasing (%)

34 (87.179)

42 (89.362)

207 (74.460)

1.000

0.123

0.041

 Glucose reduction (%)

8 (20.513)

19 (40.426)

59 (21.223)

0.081

1.000

0.008

 Chlorine reduction (%)

20 (51.282)

17 (36.170)

100 (35.971)

0.234

0.095

1.000

 Increased IgG synthesis rate (%)

14 (77.778)

18 (75.000)

77 (47.531)

1.000

0.029

0.022

MRI features (%)

 Positive findings of parenchyma

19 (52.778)

21 (56.757)

118 (46.640)

0.915

0.609

0.330

 Positive meningeal findings

11 (30.556)

15 (40.541)

61 (24.111)

0.518

0.528

0.055

Peripheral blood (median and IQR)

 White blood cells (10⁹/L)

7.790 [6.035, 10.785]

8.340 [6.485, 10.165]

7.895 [5.920, 10.510]

<0.001

<0.001

<0.001

 Lymphocytes (10⁹/L)

1.120 [0.665, 1.305]

1.020 [0.750, 1.525]

1.165 [0.832, 1.647]

<0.001

<0.001

<0.001

 Monocyte (10⁹/L)

0.660 [0.455, 0.945]

0.660 [0.425, 0.910]

0.570 [0.422, 0.780]

0.004

<0.001

<0.001

 CD3 + T lymphocytes (cell/µl)

504.000 [414.000, 785.500]

453.000 [248.500, 751.000]

636.000 [408.500, 935.000]

<0.001

<0.001

<0.001

 CD4 + T lymphocytes (cell/µl)

254.000 [222.500, 454.500]

193.000 [119.000, 378.000]

334.000 [189.500, 518.500]

<0.001

<0.001

<0.001

 CD8 + T lymphocytes (cell/µl)

220.000 [101.000, 305.500]

213.000 [90.500, 327.500]

223.000 [163.500, 377.500]

<0.001

<0.001

<0.001

EBV in peripheral blood (%)

0.769

< 0.001

< 0.001

 Negative

15 (45.455)

9 (36.000)

116 (74.839)

 Latent infection

8 (24.242)

7 (28.000)

30 (19.355)

 Active infection

10 (30.303)

9 (36.000)

9 (5.806)

Poor prognoses (%)

0.982

0.921

0.596

 Consciousness disturbance

4 (10.256)

6 (12.766)

20 (7.194)

 Mechanical ventilation

3 (7.692)

4 (8.511)

20 (7.194)

 Death

1 (2.564)

1 (2.128)

7 (2.518)