Different characteristics of human herpesvirus 6 encephalitis between primary infection and viral reactivation.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Pathogenesis of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) encephalitis, in particular difference between HHV-6 encephalitis at the time of primary infection and reactivation remains unclear.

OBJECTIVES:

To elucidate the mechanism of HHV-6 encephalitis at the time of primary infection and reactivation.

STUDY DESIGN:

Twenty-two HHV-6 encephalitis patients at the time of primary infection, 6 febrile convulsion (FC) patients caused by HHV-6 infection, and 14 FC patients without HHV-6 infection (non HHV-6 FC) were enrolled. Additionally, 7 stem cell transplant recipients with HHV-6 encephalitis and eight adult controls were also enrolled in this study. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) HHV-6 DNA copy numbers and biomarkers levels were compared.

RESULTS:

Low copy number of CSF HHV-6 DNA was detected in 7 of the 22 patients with HHV-6 encephalitis in primary infection, whereas all seven CSF samples collected from post-transplant HHV-6 encephalitis patients contained high viral DNA copy numbers (P<0.001). CSF concentrations of IL-6 (P=0.032), IL-8 (P=0.014), MMP-9 (P=0.004), and TIMP-1 (P=0.002) were significantly higher in patients with HHV-6 encephalitis in primary infection than non-HHV-6 FC. CSF IL-6 (P=0.008), IL-8 (P=0.015), and IL-10 (P=0.019) concentrations were significantly higher in patients with post-transplant HHV-6 encephalitis than adult controls.

CONCLUSION:

The present study suggests that the characteristics of HHV-6 encephalitis are different between HHV-6 encephalitis at the time of primary infection and reactivation in transplant recipients.

• Authors: Yoshiki Kawamura, Ken Sugata, Masaru Ihira, Takateru Mihara, Tatsuro Mutoh, Yoshizo Asano, Tetsushi Yoshikawa
• Journal: Journal of clinical virology : the official publication of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology (J Clin Virol) Vol. 51 Issue 1 Pg. 12-9 (May 2011) ISSN: 1873-5967 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 21376661 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• DNA, Viral
• Interleukins
• Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 9

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Biomarkers (cerebrospinal fluid)
• Case-Control Studies
• Child, Preschool
• DNA, Viral (cerebrospinal fluid)
• Encephalitis, Viral (cerebrospinal fluid, virology)
• Female
• Herpesvirus 6, Human (genetics, pathogenicity, physiology)
• Humans
• Infant
• Interleukins (cerebrospinal fluid)
• Male
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 (cerebrospinal fluid)
• Middle Aged
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Recurrence
• Roseolovirus Infections (cerebrospinal fluid, virology)
• Seizures, Febrile (virology)
• Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 (cerebrospinal fluid)
• Transplantation (statistics & numerical data)
• Virus Activation