title: Fulminant hepatic failure attributed to infection with human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) in an immunocompetent woman: A case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Mild disease due to human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) has been reported in healthy children. Severe disease due to this virus can occur in immunocompromised patients but is rarely reported in previously healthy adults. We report the case of a previously healthy woman who presented with a skin rash, mild upper respiratory symptoms, and abdominal pain and succumbed to fulminant hepatic failure attributed to infection with HHV-6B. HHV-6 may be more commonly associated with fulminant hepatitis in immunocompetent patients than previously thought and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with skin rash, upper respiratory symptoms, and unexplained hepatitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago Medicine, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., TW003-d, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. Electronic address: Angella.Charnot-Katsikas@uchospitals.edu.
authors.forename: Angella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Charnot-Katsikas
authors.affiliation: Coppe Healthcare Solutions, W229 N1870 Westwood Dr., Waukesha, WI 53186, USA. Electronic address: dbaewer@coppehealth.com.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baewer
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington Medical Center, Box 357110 1959 NE Pacific Street, NW120, Seattle, WA 98195-7110, USA. Electronic address: lincook@u.washington.edu.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago Medicine, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., Chicago, IL 60637, USA. Electronic address: mdavid@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu.
authors.forename: Michael Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: David
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000209:etiology*; D019349:Roseolovirus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology
keywords: Fulminant hepatitis; HHV-6; Human herpesvirus-6; Immunocompetent; Liver failure; Rash