Human herpesvirus 6 viremia in bone marrow transplant recipients: clinical features and risk factors

J Infect Dis. 2002 Apr 1;185(7):847-53. doi: 10.1086/339411. Epub 2002 Mar 19.

Abstract

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) infection was studied in 82 bone marrow transplant (BMT) recipients (72 allogeneic, 10 autologous). All recipients and 30 donors were seropositive for HHV-6 antibody at the time of bone marrow transplantation. Thirty-one recipients (37.8%) had HHV-6 viremia 2-4 weeks after transplantation. The incidence of HHV-6 viremia was significantly higher among allogeneic BMT recipients than in autologous BMT recipients (P=.011). Therefore, the following analyses of allogeneic BMT recipients were carried out (n=72). Geometric mean antibody titers (log(10)) were significantly higher in recipients without viremia than in those with viremia (1.84+/-0.39 vs. 1.61+/-0.42; P=.022). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that leukemia or lymphoma is an independent risk factor (P=.031) for HHV-6 viremia. Rash occurring within 1 month after transplantation was observed in 17 (54.8%) of 31 recipients with HHV-6 viremia but in only 8 (19.5%) of 41 recipients without HHV-6 viremia (P=.001).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Herpesviridae Infections / epidemiology*
  • Herpesviridae Infections / physiopathology*
  • Herpesviridae Infections / virology
  • Herpesvirus 6, Human / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Risk Factors
  • Transplantation, Autologous
  • Transplantation, Homologous
  • Viremia / virology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral