Human herpesvirus 7 in allogeneic hemopoietic stem cell transplant recipients in the central clinical hospital in Warsaw: a three-year survey.
OBJECTIVE
Human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) is spread worldwide and has been described as a potential pathogen in immunosuppressed patients. Different clinical manifestations have been described including fever and skin rash; HHV-7 may also be a possible cofactor for cytomegalovirus disease in transplant recipients.


METHODS
A retrospective review of a group of 58 adult recipients of allogeneic hemopoietic stem cell transplantation was made. Serum samples taken in the range of 0-180 days after transplant were examined for presence of specific HHV-7 sequences using the quantitative real-time PCR method.


RESULTS
HHV-7 DNA was detected in plasma samples in 26 (45%) of the 58 recipients between day 20 and day 65 of transplantation. All of them developed fever of unknown origin; also HHV-5 DNA was detected in plasma samples collected from 11 HHV-7-positive patients. None of the described individuals died during detectable HHV-7 or HHV-5 viremia periods.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a high frequency of detectable HHV-7 viral load in allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients in Poland. Limited availability and sensitivity of serological methods along with the necessity of rapid introduction of antiviral treatment has forced the development of molecular diagnostics. Furthermore, establishment of appropriate procedures for monitoring active HHV-7 infection is important to clarify the virus infection in transplant recipients.
Dzieciatkowski
Tomasz
T
Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. dzieciatkowski@wp.pl
Przybylski
Maciej
M
Basak
Grzegorz Wladyslaw
GW
Torosian
Tigran
T
Jedrzejczak
Wieslaw Wiktor
WW
Mlynarczyk
Grazyna
G
D000328:Adult; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D016199:Herpesvirus 7, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018146:Muromegalovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019349:Roseolovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012698:Serologic Tests; D019562:Viral Load; D014766:Viremia / Q000175:diagnosis; D055815:Young Adult
D004279:DNA, Viral