Fatal primary infection due to human herpesvirus 6 variant A in a renal transplant recipient.
We describe a fatal primary human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) variant A infection in a kidney transplanted adult woman. On day 20 post transplantation (TX), after rejection therapy, the patient presented an acute hemophagocytic syndrome with hepatitis and central nervous system involvement. HHV-6 IgG and IgM antibodies seroconversion was demonstrated. HHV-6 variant A was the sole pathogen detected by nested PCR and/or culture in blood, bone marrow aspiration, liver biopsy, cerebrospinal fluid and bronchoalveolar lavage. The graft was HHV-6 seropositive and the patient was not transfused before day 28 post TX, suggesting that the virus was transmitted by the graft. Despite immunoglobulins, ganciclovir and foscarnet therapy, the HHV-6 infection progressed and led to severe aplasia. The patient developed Aspergillus fumigatus pneumonia and died from fulminant candidemia. This case demonstrated for the first time that HHV-6 variant A primary infection can cause life-threatening disseminated infection in immunosuppressed patients.
Rossi
C
C
Infectious Diseases Clinic, Department of Nephrology, Erasme Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
Delforge
M L
ML
Jacobs
F
F
Wissing
M
M
Pradier
O
O
Remmelink
M
M
Byl
B
B
Thys
J P
JP
Liesnard
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000276:immunology; D015616:Histiocytosis, Non-Langerhans-Cell / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D013997:Time Factors
D000914:Antibodies, Viral