title: Human herpesvirus-6 and human herpesvirus-7 infections in bone marrow transplant recipients.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Peiris
authors.forename: K Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Y L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ng
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D000212:Acyclovir