Human herpesvirus-6 and human herpesvirus-7 infections in bone marrow transplant recipients.
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6), and human herpesvirus-7 (HHV-7) DNA in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) of 61 bone marrow transplant recipients was monitored weekly during the first 12 weeks post-transplantation by a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Thirty-seven (61%), 17 (28%), and 32 (53%) of patients had one or more PBL specimens positive for HCMV, HHV-6 or HHV-7 DNA, respectively. HHV-7 DNA in PBL during the early post-transplant period was associated with a longer time to neutrophil engraftment (mean 28.8 days vs 19.8 days; P = 0.01). In two patients who failed to engraft, HHV-6 DNA and HHV-7 DNA was detected in plasma and PBL, respectively, early in their post-transplant period. Patients with HCMV disease were more likely to have concurrent HHV-7 DNA in PBL prior to onset of disease than were patients with asymptomatic HCMV infection, suggesting that HHV-7 may be a cofactor in the progression from HCMV infection to HCMV disease. In the 17 patients (179 specimens) in whom viral DNA in plasma was studied (in addition to PBL), a positive result was found only in 3. In each, viral DNA in plasma appeared to correlate with clinically significant disease. HHV-7 DNA in plasma was associated with encephalitis in an allograft recipient.
Chan
P K
PK
Department of Microbiology, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.
Peiris
J S
JS
Yuen
K Y
KY
Liang
R H
RH
Lau
Y L
YL
Chen
F E
FE
Lo
S K
SK
Cheung
C Y
CY
Chan
T K
TK
Ng
M H
MH
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016199:Herpesvirus 7, Human / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000821:virology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D000212:Acyclovir