Short non-coding RNA’s provide cell-free, activity-specific viral signatures.
High levels of herpesviruses found in patients suspected of bloodstream infections using metagenomic NGS sequencing of cfDNA
EBV was found in 28.6%; HHV-6 and CMV were found in 18.4% of cases.
Adding anti-thymocyte globulin to cyclophosphamide did not increase HHV-6 reactivation after haploidentical HCT
As with previous studies, HHV-6 reactivation delayed platelet engraftment and increased the risk of aGVHD.
A retrospective study of haploidentical alloHCT patients found no outcome differences between treated patients with high viral loads (log10 4.65) and untreated patients with lower viral loads (log10 3.84)
Controlled studies are needed to determine the benefit of antiviral therapy in patients with high viral >10,000 copies/ mL.
While frequently detected in immunocompromised patients, HHV-6 is rarely found in the lungs of immunocompetent patients
Two groups of investigators in China used next-generation sequencing to identify EBV, HHV-7, HSV1 and CMV as the most common herpesviruses in immunocompetent pneumonia patients.
What went wrong with posoleucel: a virus-specific cytotoxic T cell therapy?
Results from preclinical and Phase 2 studies were encouraging, but Phase III trials were cancelled.
HHV-6 reactivation may influence graft rejection in pediatric kidney and liver transplantation
Cytokines IL-4, IL-8 and IL-10 correlated with graft rejection and were elevated in HHV-6+ patients.
A systematic review and meta-analysis confirms an association between HHV-6B reactivation and increased mortality after hematopoietic cell transplant
Randomized trials are warranted to evaluate if treating HHV-6B reactivation improves outcomes.
Large study from China identifies adverse outcomes associated with, and risk factors for, HHV-6 encephalitis in post-HSCT patients
Greatly increased risk of death, acute GVHD, transplant-associated microangiopathy found.
Lower levels of torque teno virus correlate with higher HHV-6A viral loads and higher rejection rates in kidney transplantation
Value of this observation in determining prognosis or guiding treatment remains to be studied.
How frequent are HHV-6-related complications with CAR-T cell therapy?
A combination of studies find that both reactivation and disease are infrequent after CAR-T therapy.
Centrilobular necroinflammation associated with pediatric HHV-6+ acute liver failure
Would early treatment with antiviral therapy prevent the need for a liver transplant?
Why does substituting CMV-specific letermovir for broad-spectrum anti-viral prophylaxis reduce the rate of HHV-6B encephalitis?
Japanese study replicates the paradoxical results of a prior US study, but fails to explain the paradox.
Reactivation of a transplant recipient’s iciHHV-6B resulted in an active infection of his donated liver
Investigators from the University of Helsinki used highly sophisticated techniques to establish that the donor’s integrated virus reactivated and then infected the graft. This thorough investigation highlights the potential pathological impact of iciHHV-6B in transplantation.
Biofire multiplex PCR assay accurately detects HHV-6 meningitis/encephalitis in immunocompromised adults
Utility of the assay in immunocompetent patients requires further study.