title: Human Herpes Virus-6 Following Pediatric Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human herpes virus-6 (HHV-6) reactivation after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is well known and has been linked with several clinical manifestations. The significance of HHV-6 viremia and related complications in this setting is still unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the incidence of HHV-6 reactivation and associated morbidity in children undergoing allogeneic HSCT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples obtained weekly (for cytomegalovirus surveillance) from children who underwent allogeneic HCST during the period January 2006-June 2010 were retrospectively tested for the presence of HHV-6 DNA using standard real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Clinical records were reviewed for correlation between viremia and clinical manifestations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Samples from 39 children were tested. Twenty patients had viral loads above 1000 copies/ml (51%) in at least one sample. Higher viral loads were seen in patients with primary immunodeficiency and in those with cord blood transplant. Attributable symptoms were present in 12 patients (60%) concurrently with positive PCR. Clinical manifestations spontaneously resolved without treatment in most cases, concomitantly with a decrease in viral load.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HHV-6 reactivation during allogeneic HSCT is common. HHV-6 reactivation should be considered in patients with graft-vs-host disease-like rash, onset of CNS symptoms, delay in engraftment, and in patients after cord blood transplantation.
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shachor-Meyouhas
authors.forename: Alla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fesenko
authors.forename: Zipi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kra-Oz
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zaidman
authors.forename: Moran
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szwarcwort-Cohen
authors.forename: Einat
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shafran
authors.forename: Imad
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kassis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004279:DNA, Viral; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000637:transplantation*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019349:Roseolovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology; D063189:Symptom Assessment; D019562:Viral Load; D014775:Virus Activation / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral