Human Herpesvirus 6 Infection after Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation: A Multicenter Prospective Study in Adult Patients

Human herpesvirus type 6 (HHV-6) is a widespread roseolovirus which encompasses two different variants: HHV-6A and HHV-6B sharing 75%-95% nucleotide sequence identity. Variant B is the most commonly detected in clinical specimens: it is considered as the causative agent of the exanthema subitum childhood disease with an estimated seroprevalence of> 95% after the age of 2 years and of pathologies described in immunocompromised patients 1-3. To date, variant A seems less frequently detected 4. Like other herpesviruses, HHV-6 establishes a life-long latency; involved organs are brain, bone marrow and salivary glands, with a strong tropism for T-lymphocytes, hematopoietic CD34+ progenitor cells and microglia 2, 5.

Source: Journal of Infection - May 6, 2019 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Marie Balsat, Sylvie Pillet, Emmanuelle Tavernier, Victoria Cacheux, Vanessa Escuret, C écile Moluçon-Chabrot, Karine Augeul-Meunier, Audrey Mirand, Christel Regagnon, Fabien Tinquaut, Véronique Bousser, Mathieu Oriol, Denis Guyotat, Gilles Salles, Jac Source Type: research