title: Fatal Myocarditis Associated With HHV-6 Following Immunosuppression in Two Children.
abstract: Fatal myocarditis is a rare complication in immunosuppressed children. Recent reports have linked human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) infection, typically a benign infection in childhood, with myocarditis. HHV-6 can reactivate during periods of immunosuppression. Here, we report 2 cases in which children were immunosuppressed, one for treatment of Evans syndrome and the other post hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, who developed rapid and fatal HHV-6-associated myocarditis. These cases suggest that HHV-6 infection should be considered as an etiology of myocarditis in immunosuppressed patients regardless of correlating blood levels. Early treatment of HHV-6 in patients with myocarditis could improve morbidity and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Divsion of Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; and.
authors.forename: Heather E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Stefanski
authors.affiliation: Divsion of Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; and.
authors.forename: Kathryn A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Thibert
authors.affiliation: Divsion of Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; and.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pritchett
authors.affiliation: Biocenter, Chair of Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Bhupesh K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Prusty
authors.affiliation: Divsion of Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; and.
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: Divsion of Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; and lundx072@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Troy C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Lund
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications*; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000150:complications*