A serological investigation of human herpesvirus 6 infections in liver transplant recipients and the detection of cross-reacting antibodies to cytomegalovirus

✍ Scribed by Dr. Sheena Sutherland; George Christofinis; John O'Grady; Roger Williams

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1991
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 403 KB
• Volume: 33
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0146-6615
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.1890330306

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Sera from 50 orthotopic liver transplant recipients were examined for antibodies to human herpesvirus 6 (HHV‐6) and Cytomegalovirus (CMV), and the findings correlated with the clinical condition of the patients. Both primary and secondary HHV‐6 infections were detected sero‐logically following liver transplantation. Interpretation of serological assays is complicated by CMV and HHV‐6 antibody cross reactions which were common. Sera from 5 patients became HHV‐6 antibody negative following absorption with CMV infected cells. Thirty patients were initially seronegative for HHV‐6 antibodies, 12 remained so following transplantation, 5 developed cross reacting antibodies, and 13 serocon‐verted. The seroconversions occurred at 4 to 8 weeks post‐transplant in the same time period as CMV antibody rises. HHV‐6 IgM was detected in only 4 of the 13. Of the 7 patients who had serological evidence of active HHV‐6 infections but no evidence of CMV infection, 4 (56%) had fever, 1 (14%) hepatitis, 1 (14%) lung dysfunction, and 3 (42%) neurological disorders. In the 12 patients who remained HHV‐6 antibody negative, there were fewer fevers and neurological disorders.