Copyright: ©Author(s) 2026. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. No commercial re-use. See permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
World J Clin Cases. Apr 16, 2026; 14(11): 119107
Published online Apr 16, 2026. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v14.i11.119107
Published online Apr 16, 2026. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v14.i11.119107
Herpes simplex encephalitis associated with infliximab therapy for ulcerative colitis: A case report
Maryam Aleissa, Saleh A Busbait, Ryba Bhullar, Jai P Singh, Jasneet S Bhullar, Vijay K Mittal, Department of Surgery, Henry Ford Providence Hospital, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Southfield, MI 48075, United States
Maryam Aleissa, Department of Surgery, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh 84428, Saudi Arabia
Saleh A Busbait, Department of Surgery, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia
Author contributions: Aleissa MA, Busbait SB, Bhullar RB, Mittal VM, Singh JP, and Bhullar JB designed the concept and outline and contributed to the writing and review of the literature; Aleissa MA, Bhullar JB, and Busbait SB were responsible for the oversight and coordination; All authors contributed to the editing of the manuscript. Bhullar JB is the corresponding author of this manuscript.
Informed consent statement: Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this report and any accompanying images.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
CARE Checklist (2016) statement: The authors have read the CARE Checklist (2016), and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CARE Checklist (2016).
Corresponding author: Jasneet S Bhullar, MD, FACS, FASCRS, Department of Surgery, Henry Ford Providence Hospital, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, 16001 W Nine Mile Rd, Southfield, MI 48075, United States. drjsbhullar@gmail.com
Received: January 23, 2026
Revised: February 21, 2026
Accepted: March 9, 2026
Published online: April 16, 2026
Processing time: 77 Days and 2.9 Hours
Revised: February 21, 2026
Accepted: March 9, 2026
Published online: April 16, 2026
Processing time: 77 Days and 2.9 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Herpes simplex encephalitis is a rare but potentially fatal complication of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) inhibitor therapy. This case presents a rare instance of herpes simplex virus type 1 encephalitis, which developed only a few days after starting infliximab treatment for ulcerative colitis. Published literature provides evidence that TNF-α functions as a vital factor that protects against viral infections in the nervous system. Inhibition of TNF-α action allows viruses to reac