title: HHV-6: clinical and laboratory investigations and correlations with encephalitis in liver transplant recipients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Human herpesvirus (HHV) 6 infections and reactivation are emerging factors in neurology. This study aimed to verify the presence of encephalitis associated with HHV-6 positivity by antigenemia or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in liver transplant recipients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the medical records and laboratory results of 20 recipients with antigenemia or a positive PCR for HHV-6. The range of the transplantation dates was September 2006 to March 2010; the period of the medical records was from the date of transplantation to 1 year thereafter. Encephalitis was diagnosed by these symptoms: fever, mening, signs, seizures, dysphasia, visual and hearing impairment, or sensory and motion alterations. "Possible encephalitis" was considered when the patients had at least 2 of the symptoms. PCR or antigenemia for HHV-6 was not performed with central nervous fluid. The correlation between HHV-6 infection and encephalitis was evaluated with the use of descriptive statistical tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Symptoms associated with encephalitis occurred in 7/20, patients (35%): 5/20 with fever and 4/20 with mental confusion. Involuntary movements were present in 1 case. The symptoms appeared with in the first 10 days in 6/20 patients and lasted for 1 year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that symptoms associated with encephalitis occurred in a considerable number of patients with positive PCR and/or antigenemia for HHV-6 after liver transplantation. This correlation needs retrospectie and prospective studies to determine the specific association.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical Science, State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Magalhães
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Guardia
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sampaio
authors.forename: I F S F
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Boin
authors.forename: R S B
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Stucchi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055815:Young Adult