title: Several herpesviruses can reactivate in a severe drug-induced multiorgan reaction in the same sequential order as in graft-versus-host disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS) is a severe multiorgan systemic reaction. Numerous studies have linked reactivation of human herpesvirus (HHV)-6 with the development of DIHS. Recent articles have suggested that reactivation of other herpesviruses besides HHV-6 might also be involved in the development of DIHS. On the other hand, recent studies have provided evidence for a role of reactivation of various herpesviruses in the development of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We attempted to determine whether sequential herpesvirus reactivation could be detected in four patients with severe DIHS, as observed in patients with GVHD, and be coincident with various clinical manifestations that developed after discontinuation of the causative drugs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Detection and quantification of viral DNA [cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), HHV-6 and HHV-7] in sequential blood samples were performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction assays, based on TaqMan technology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In these patients, the cascade of virus reactivation initiated by HHV-6 or EBV extended to EBV or HHV-7, and eventually to CMV. Clinical manifestations of this syndrome followed by failure of various organs occurring despite discontinuation of the drug were coincident with these herpesvirus reactivations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that various herpesviruses can reactivate in the setting of severe drug reactions in a similar sequential order to that described in GVHD. The sequential reactivation of these herpesviruses is responsible for the development of multiorgan failure occurring after discontinuation of the causative drug.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kyorin University School of Medicine, 6-20-2 Shinkawa, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8611, Japan. kano@kyorin-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kano
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hiraharas
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakuma
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shiohara
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000821:virology*; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000821:virology*; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000502:physiology*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000821:virology; D014775:Virus Activation
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral