Transmission of integrated human herpesvirus-6 in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Kamble, R. T., Clark, D. A., Leong, H. N., Heslop, H. E., Brenner, M. K. and Carrum, G. (2007) Transmission of integrated human herpesvirus-6 in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplantation, 40(6), pp. 563-566. (doi: 10.1038/sj.bmt.1705780) (PMID:17637686)

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Abstract

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) viremia, as detected by polymerase chain amplification, occurs in approximately half of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. The significance of such viremia is incompletely understood, but HHV-6 encephalitis and bone marrow suppression are increasingly being recognized in patients with high viral DNA. We report two patients in whom donor-to-recipient transmission occurred through hematopoietic transplant by means of chromosomally integrated (CI) HHV-6. Iatrogenic transmission manifested at engraftment as asymptomatic elevation of HHV-6 viral DNA of 3600 and 15 400 DNA copies/ml in plasma and 6.1 times 106 and 9.7 times 105 DNA copies/ml in the whole blood. Both donors had elevated plasma HHV-6 PCR at 5.6 times 104 and 1.3 times 105 DNA copies/ml and strikingly elevated whole blood HHV-6 levels at 4.1 times 106 and 4.7 times 106 DNA copies/ml, respectively. CI of the virus was traced to the mother of one patient and his donor. CI of HHV-6 may confound the interpretation of HHV-6 viremia after stem cell transplantation; consideration of the possibility of CI HHV-6 will avoid unnecessary antiviral therapy.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Clark, Dr Duncan
Authors: Kamble, R. T., Clark, D. A., Leong, H. N., Heslop, H. E., Brenner, M. K., and Carrum, G.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Life Sciences
Journal Name:Bone Marrow Transplantation
Publisher:Nature Publishing Group
ISSN:0268-3369
ISSN (Online):1476-5365
Published Online:16 July 2007

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