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.
Reactivated HHV-6, CMV, adenovirus and BK virus associated with increased mortality in pediatric sepsis
Odds of mortality were 2.6-3X higher in patients with detectable viral DNA; odds were even higher with multiple herpesviruses.
Japanese study confirms cognitive problems from post-transplant HHV-6B reactivation
Those with the highest viral loads suffered deficits in verbal memory and reduced quality of life.
Adding antithymocyte globulin to post transplant cyclophosphamide prophylaxis does not increase risk of HHV-6 reactivation after haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation
The main risk factor for HHV-6 reactivation was low absolute lymphocyte count.
Strong Evidence Linking HHV-6B To Pneumonia in Transplant Patients
Levels of mRNA transcripts indicating active infection strengthen case for pathogenic role.
Substituting letermovir for broad-spectrum ganciclovir for CMV prophylaxis did not increase HHV-6 disease in allogenic transplant patients
Investigators were surprised that the use of the less toxic CMV specific antiviral did not result in a significant increase in HHV-6-related disease.