High Incidence of Human Herpesvirus 6 Reactivation in Adult Recipients of Double Cord Blood Transplants

Status epilepticus after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) is rare. The authors report a case involving a 65-year-old man with nonconvulsive status epilepticus 34 days after umbilical cord blood transplantion for chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Cerebrospinal fluid and serum were positive for human herpesvirus 6 (HHV6). Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed symmetric T2 hyper-intensity bilaterally in the mesial temporal lobes, and T2 hyperintensi-ties and restricted diffusion of bilateral putamina. Despite aggressive anticonvulsive therapy, his seizures only abated with initiation of ganciclovir therapy. The patient completed six weeks of combination antiviral therapy (ganciclovir and foscarnet). His cognitive function gradually improved and, after prolonged rehabilitation, the patient was discharged home with residual intermittent memory loss but otherwise functional. HHV6 should be considered in the differential diagnosis of nonconvulsive status epilepticus after alloHCT, especially in patients with hyponatremia. Empirical antiviral therapy targeting HHV6 should be administered to these patients.

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Human herpesvirus 6 variant A infection with fever, skin rash, and liver dysfunction in a patient after unrelated cord blood transplantation

Bone Marrow Transplantation ◽

10.1038/sj.bmt.1705184 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 36 (12) ◽

pp. 1109-1110 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

A Tomonari ◽

S Takahashi ◽

J Ooi ◽

K Takasugi ◽

T Konuma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cord Blood ◽

Skin Rash ◽

Liver Dysfunction ◽

Cord Blood Transplantation ◽

Human Herpesvirus ◽

Human Herpesvirus 6 ◽

Unrelated Cord Blood Transplantation ◽

Blood Transplantation ◽

Herpesvirus 6 ◽

Unrelated Cord Blood

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Inhibition of Cord Blood Cell Expansion by Human Herpesvirus 6 In Vitro

Stem Cells and Development ◽

10.1089/154732804323046800 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 197-203 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Andreas Nitsche ◽

Jessika Fleischmann ◽

Kai-Michael Klima ◽

Aleksandar Radonić ◽

Stefanie Thulke ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Cell ◽

Cord Blood ◽

Cell Expansion ◽

Human Herpesvirus ◽

Human Herpesvirus 6 ◽

Cord Blood Cell ◽

Herpesvirus 6

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Distribution of Antibodies to a Causative Agent of Exanthem Subitum (Human Herpesvirus-6) in Healthy Individuals

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.84.4.675 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 84 (4) ◽

pp. 675-677

Author(s):

Tetsushi Yoshikawa ◽

Sadao Suga ◽

Yoshizo Asano ◽

Takehiko Yazaki ◽

Hiroshi Kodama ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cord Blood ◽

Causative Agent ◽

Human Herpesvirus ◽

Immunofluorescence Assay ◽

Healthy Individuals ◽

Human Herpesvirus 6 ◽

Exanthem Subitum ◽

Adolescents And Adults ◽

Positive Rate ◽

Herpesvirus 6

The transfer of IgG antibodies to a causative agent of exanthem subitum (human herpesvirus-6) from mother to infant was examined with an indirect immunofluorescence assay. Of 20 mothers, 85% had the antibody more than 1:10, and the significantly higher level of the antibody was found in the cord blood with a positive rate of 95%. A mean ratio of cord blood to maternal antibody titer was 1.63. A total of 301 sera from healthy individuals was examined for the age-specific prevalence of antibody to the virus. In the first 2 months of life, 87% of infants had the antibody; the positive rate and the level of antibody decreased during the first 6 months of life with the lowest positive rate of 6% at 4 to 5 months of age. After 6 months of age, they increased gradually and reached the highest level at 1 year of age with the positive rate of 86%. From 2 years of age, the prevalence of the antibody was almost stable (69% to 76%) and similar to those in adolescents and adults.

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