title: Encephalopathy associated with human herpesvirus 6 in a liver transplant recipient.
abstract: Recent reports have documented human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) as a cause of high fever, bone marrow depression, and rash in liver transplant recipients in the absence of another known pathogen. We describe a 49-year-old liver transplant recipient who developed confusion, occipital headache, and involuntary movements of the limbs 3 weeks after orthotopic liver transplantation. HHV-6 was detected in the peripheral blood using a rapid culture assay. Examination of cerebrospinal fluid by polymerase chain reaction for HHV-6 was also positive. No other pathogens were identified. The patient improved after commencement of intravenous ganciclovir therapy. This case suggests HHV-6 needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained confusion in liver transplant recipients.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15240, USA.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Paterson
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gayowski
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Carrigan
authors.forename: I R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Marino
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D015774:Ganciclovir