title: Congenital infection with human herpesvirus 6 variant B associated with neonatal seizures and poor neurological outcome.
abstract: Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV 6) has neurotropic and neuroinvasive properties. The virus has been found in the cerebrospinal fluid of many children with aseptic meningoencephalitis. Intrauterine transmission has been documented by HHV 6 DNA detection in cord blood specimens of apparently healthy newborns and in fetuses following spontaneous abortions. A patient is described with early neonatal afebrile seizures resulting from a congenital HHV 6 variant B infection disclosed by repeated detection of viral genome by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in cerebrospinal fluid in the first days of life. At follow-up, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies disclosed hyperintensities in the periventricular white matter and basal ganglia, associated with cerebral atrophy. Further follow-up at 18 months revealed poor neurological outcome with mild neurodevelopmental retardation, strabismus and hypertonia of legs. This report provides evidence of neurological involvement after HHV 6 vertical transmission, and the association with neurological sequelae.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Pediatrics and Neonatology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. lanari@med.unibo.it
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lanari
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Papa
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Venturi
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lazzarotto
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Faldella
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gabrielli
authors.forename: Brunella
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: Maria Paola
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Landini
authors.forename: Gian Paolo
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Salvioli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000821:virology; D019349:Roseolovirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D012640:Seizures / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral