A group from Sapporo Medical University studied 105 post HSCT patients and determined that 7 developed CNS dysfunction in the first 42 days after transplant. Six out of the 7 were positive for HHV-6, but none of the other 12 pathogens tested. Four patients (3.8%) were diagnosed with HHV-6 encephalitis. The group used a qualitative multiplex PCR and then used a quantitative PCR to confirm the results.
Delirium associated with HHV-6B reactivation in cord blood transplant patients: time for an antiviral prophylaxis trial?
A prospective study authored by Joshua Hill and Danielle Zerr determined that higher than average HHV-6B DNA levels increased the odds of developing delirium after cord blood transplantation (CBT) by almost three fold. Patients with DNA loads in the top quartile had a 4.5 fold increase in delirium.
HHV-6B associated with severe GVHD and may explain “fever of unknown origin” in 30% of pediatric stem cell transplant patients
HHV-6 may be the cause of “fever of unknown origin” in 30% of stem cell transplant (SCT) patients. By the third week after SCT, 70% of HHV-6 positive patients had a skin rash, compared to 39% of HHV-6 negative patients.
New research shows HLA modulation caused by acute HHV-6A infection of mesothelial cells
HHV-6A infection of mesothelial cells causes HLA molecule modulation. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that human mesothelial cells are susceptible to HHV-6A infection. They also show that the virus causes modulated HLA expression on the cell surface, inducing the de novo expression of HLA class II and HLA-G
HSCT patients with HHV-6 reactivation have significantly worse survival rates and higher rates of acute GVHD
A group from Sapporo Medical University studied 105 post HSCT patients and determined that 7 developed CNS dysfunction in the first 42 days after transplant. Six out of the 7 were positive for HHV-6, but none of the other 12 pathogens tested. Four or 3.8% of the population were diagnosed with HHV-6 encephalitis.
Josh Pritchett wins American Society of Hematology award for work on HHV-6 in transplant patients
Former HHV-6 Foundation staffer and current medical student Josh Pritchett has been named a 2015 National Honors Award recipient by the American Society of Hematology (ASH) for his work on HHV-6 in bone marrow transplant patients.
ciHHV-6 is a risk factor for angina pectoris
In an article published this month in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Dr. Louis Flamand’s team has described a relationship between inherited chromosomally integrated HHV-6 (iciHHV-6) and the development of angina pectoris.
HHV-6B-induced neutropenia in primary infection associated with specific chemokines
In an article published in the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, Tetsushi Yoshikawa’s team from Fujita Health University School of Medicine determined that the severe neutropenia in primary HHV-6B infection is tied to reduced platelet counts, lower RANTES and higher levels of MCP-1, MIG and IP-10.
HHV-6 Reactivation Tied to acute GvHD and Steroid Administration
A large-scale multiplex PCR assay developed by a team in Japan was used to study 13 DNA viruses in 105 allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients. They found that patients treated with steroids had a significantly higher risk of HHV-6 reactivation (p=0.027), and that HHV-6 was the only virus tied to the onset of acute GVHD (p=0.016).
HHV-6 can cause “idiopathic” pneumonia
A pivotal study, led by Michael Boeckh at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, has determined that occult infections contribute to 57% of all cases of “idiopathic” pneumonia syndrome (IPS), a condition previously assumed to be non-infectious. HHV-6 was the dominant pathogen representing 29% of cases.
Pathogenic role for HHV-6B in in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy
Japanese investigators published findings suggesting that HHV-6B plays a pathogenic role in epilepsy by enhancing gene expression that induces neuroinflammation and sclerosis in the temporal lobe. HHV-6 DNA levels were significantly higher in the resected tissue of epilepsy patients with sclerosis compared to those without it.
Specific chemokine polymorphism may protect against HHV-6 reactivation and aGVHD in HSCT
A genetic polymorphism of the chemokine CXCL12 was found to be associated with a lower incidence of acute GVHD. Furthermore patients with this polymorphism or receiving cells with the polymorphism were less prone to early HHV-6 reactivation.
ciHHV-6 found in adrenocortical tumors
Since the discovery of chromosomally integrated HHV-6 (ciHHV-6), investigators have wondered about the potential consequences of having chromosome integrated HHV-6 in the genome.
Joshua Hill awarded a 5-year grant to study HHV-6
Congratulations to Joshua Hill, MD, Acting Instructor at the University of Washington and Research Associate at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, who has won a K23 grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to study HHV-6 in lower respiratory tract disease and chromosomally integrated HHV-6 after stem cell transplantation (SCT).
Elevated levels of HHV-6 DNA in Alzheimer’s, linked to variants in antiviral genes
A group from Italy’s University of Bologna report that genetic defects in antimicrobial defense mechanisms can leave some individuals vulnerable to sub-clinical infections that lead to cognitive decline as they age. They found variations in specific antiviral genes that correlate with HHV-6 DNA levels in brain tissue and blood from patients with Alzheimer’s disease.