Does adjunct dexamethasone improve verbal memory outcomes in adults with herpes simplex virus encephalitis treated with aciclovir?
Does adjunct dexamethasone improve verbal memory outcomes in adults with herpes simplex virus encephalitis treated with aciclovir?
DexEnceph
Safety and efficacy of adjunct dexamethasone in adults with herpes simplex virus encephalitis in the UK (DexEnceph): a multicentre, observer-blind, randomised, phase 3, controlled trial
Lancet Neurology · 2026
Bottom Line: Adding dexamethasone to standard aciclovir treatment did not improve verbal memory at 26 weeks in adults with HSV encephalitis. The trial was safe with no evidence of harm from dexamethasone and no increase in viral persistence. Routine use of adjunct dexamethasone in HSV encephalitis is not supported; however, a post-hoc…