Case report: human herpesvirus 7 associated fatal encephalitis in a peripheral blood stem cell transplant recipient.
Previous studies have suggested a neuroinvasive and neuropersistent potential of human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7). In this report, a case of fatal encephalitis is described and its association with HHV-7 infection is discussed. An 8-year-old girl received a peripheral blood stem cell transplant for relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. The post-transplant period was uneventful and a course of intrathecal chemotherapy was given on Day-30. On Day-41, she developed acute encephalopathy with diplopia and nystagmus. She ran a rapid downhill course and succumbed despite antiviral treatment. The only positive pathological finding was the multiple microscopic foci of haemorrhage associated with neuronal degeneration detected in the brain stem. All microbiological investigations were negative, except for the presence of HHV-7 DNA in cerebrospinal fluid and brain stem tissue samples.
Chan
Paul K S
PK
Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China. paulkschan@cuhk.edu.hk
Chik
Ki-Wai
KW
To
Ka-Fai
KF
Li
Chi-Kong
CK
Shing
Matthew M K
MM
Ng
King-Cheung
KC
Yuen
Patrick M P
PM
Cheng
Augustine F
AF
D001933:Brain Stem / Q000821:virology; D002648:Child; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016199:Herpesvirus 7, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D019349:Roseolovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*
D004279:DNA, Viral