title: Clinical indications and diagnostic techniques of human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) infection.
abstract: The sixth member of the human herpesvirus family, HHV-6, causes early childhood infection with subsequent latency and antibody prevalence of about 60-80%. Active infection is related to a number of acute and chronic diseases such as exanthem subitum, certain cases of infectious mononucleosis and other immunoproliferative syndromes, autoimmune disorders and so-called postinfectious chronic fatigue syndrome. The clinical diagnosis of HHV-6 associated diseases requires detailed clinical differential diagnostic procedures and meticulous serological testing with exclusion of other herpesvirus infections or cross-reactivity between such infections. Diagnostic efforts, however, are warranted by certain indications for therapeutic intervention. The current review summarizes indications, techniques and limitations for the serological diagnosis of HHV-6 infection.
authors.affiliation: Immunopathology Laboratory, University of Cologne, F.R.G.
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Krueger
authors.forename: D V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Ablashi
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Josephs
authors.forename: S Z
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Salahuddin
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lembke
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramon
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bertram
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans