Relationship among human herpesvirus 6 reactivation, serum interleukin 10 levels, and rash/graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
BACKGROUND
The relationship between herpesvirus reactivation and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) is unclear.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to examine the relationship between human herpesvirus (HHV) reactivation and rash/GVHD after allo-SCT by prospective evaluation.


METHODS
Fifteen patients who had received allo-SCT underwent prospective serial examinations for human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), HHV-7, cytomegalovirus, and Epstein-Barr virus DNA in the blood by polymerase chain reaction and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Serum interferon gamma, interleukins 4 and 10, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) were also measured.


RESULTS
In 10 of 15 patients, macular/papular eruptions were seen after allo-SCT and GVHD was diagnosed. In 8 patients with rash, HHV-6 DNA levels correlated with the cutaneous manifestation. Interleukin 10 and sIL-2R also increased in association with rash.


CONCLUSIONS
The number of patients in our study was relatively small. Not all patients were examined for cytokines and sIL-2R.


CONCLUSIONS
HHV-6 reactivation may be involved in the pathogenesis of rash/GVHD after allo-SCT.
Kitamura
Kana
K
Department of Dermatology, Nara Medical University, Nara, Japan.
Asada
Hideo
H
Iida
Hideyuki
H
Fukumoto
Takaya
T
Kobayashi
Nobuhiko
N
Niizeki
Hironori
H
Morii
Takeshi
T
Kimura
Hiroshi
H
Miyagawa
Sachiko
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005076:Exanthema / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014775:Virus Activation
D004279:DNA, Viral; D016753:Interleukin-10