Human herpesvirus 6 DNA in blood cells of human immunodeficiency virus-infected men: correlation of high levels with high CD4 cell counts.
The relationship between human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and the progression of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection to AIDS was evaluated using the polymerase chain reaction to quantitate HHV-6 genome equivalents in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and saliva of 32 HIV-1-seropositive men. Unlike other herpesviruses, HHV-6 was found with higher frequency and in higher copy numbers of HIV-infected men with high rather than low CD4 cell counts. Among subjects with > 400 CD4 cells/mL, 100% had detectable HHV-6 genomes in PBMC compared with 57.9% of subjects with < 400 CD4 cells/mL (P < .05). There was no significant correlation between HHV-6 antibody titer or number of amplifiable copies of HHV-6 DNA in saliva and stage of HIV disease or CD4 cell number.
Fairfax
M R
MR
Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle 98144.
Schacker
T
T
Cone
R W
RW
Collier
A C
AC
Corey
L
L
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D004279:DNA, Viral