[Heart transplantation complicated with human herpesvirus 6 infection].
HHV-6 was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of heart transplanted recipients cocultured with normal cord blood lymphocytes (CBL). Two of the 13 patients were positive for HHV-6 and none were positive in the normal control group. The virus-infected cells showed a characteristically enlarged, balloon-shaped syncytial cell pathogenic effect (CPE). The positive isolates were confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence assay, electron microscopy and southern hybridization with a 6.9 kb HHV-6 (Z29) BamHI DNA probe. In addition, the positive isolates did not react with monoclonal antibodies against HSV, CMV, VZV and EBV: The two positive isolates were identified as HHV-6 B group. In this study, a series of sera were also screened for specific anti-HHV-6 IgG antibody. Five of the 13 patients showed a fourfold or greater rise in HHV-6 antibody after transplantation including the two from whom viruses have been isolated. The results suggest that the HHV-6 infection was most likely due to reactivation by immunosuppressive therapy since patients's sera were already positive before transplantation. Our results confirm the report that HHV-6 might remain as a latent infection following the primary infection and also demonstrates that HHV-6 as a new member of herpesvirus family might coinfect with other viruses in post-heart transplanted recipients.
Guan
M
M
Virus Lab of Second Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110003.
Lu
S
S
D015139:Blotting, Southern; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D019349:Roseolovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*
D007074:Immunoglobulin G