title: Clinical features and outcome of hospitalized patients with HSV-1 DNA in the lower respiratory tract.
abstract: The aim of this study was to define the clinical impact of Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) DNA detection in the low respiratory tract of hospitalized patients. Forty-nine patients admitted to the University Hospital Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy, from May 2013 to June 2014, were analysed. Inclusion criteria were the presence or absence of HSV-1 DNA in clinical routine bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid specimens. Nineteen individuals were positive (cases) and 30 negative (controls) for the presence of HSV-1 DNA. The two groups were matched for age, gender and month of BAL collection. Cases and controls differed significantly according to length of stay in hospital (p=0.027), ICU transfer (p=0.02), disease severity (p=0.003), death (p=0.009), haematological and blood chemistry tests. Among cases, survivors and deceased patients differed significantly regarding ICU transfer (p=0.0001), mechanical ventilation (p=0.0048), disease severity (p=0.028) and risk of death (p=0.013). A trend towards higher HSV-1 loads was observed in the cases who died. These results suggest that detection of HSV-1 DNA in BAL fluid specimens is a marker of disease severity and poor outcome. Further prospective studies are necessary to deepen the clinical significance of HSV-1 DNA detection in the lower respiratory tract of hospitalized patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pica
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Policlinico Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maurici
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Buè
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine of Systems, University of Rome Tor Vergata.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lucà
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moroni
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine of Systems, University of Rome Tor Vergata.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rogliani
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata.
authors.forename: Carlo Federico
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Perno
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Volpi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral
keywords: BAL fluids; Clinical outcome; HSV-1; Hospitalized patients; Viral load