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. Their findings identify HHV-6 as the most common virus (found in 60% of all patients), and also as the only virus tied to the onset of acute GVHD (p=0.016). Interestingly, HHV-6 reactivation was associated …
Expert Opinion: Dr. Louis Flamand calls for screening of transplant organs and cells for ciHHV-6 status
Dr. Flamand, a professor and molecular virologist at Université Laval in Quebec city, has written an editorial calling for screening of organ donors for ciHHV-6 status and careful monitoring of recipients of ciHHV-6 donor tissues for signs of active HHV-6 infection and HHV-6 antigen-induced immune rejection. Flamand also questions whether solid organs and stem cells derived from persons with ciHHV-6 should be used in transplantation.
HHV-6 DNA in the CSF results in poor survival for HSCT patients
Should physicians automatically discount HHV-6 if any other pathogen is found in the CSF? Should patients with both HHV-6 and EBV DNA in the CSF be treated only for EBV? These are the questions that UW group tried to sort out in this study.
Interview with Michael Boeckh and Joshua Hill on potential risks for ciHHV6 patients undergoing HCT
The University of Washington and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center are at the forefront of studying the role of HHV-6 and ciHHV-6 in stem cell transplant patients. We asked their view on the implications immunocompromised patients with integrated HHV-6A reactivating with their own inherited virus.
HHV-6 reactivation predicts graft failure in cord blood transplant patients
HHV-6 reactivation before engraftment strongly predictive of graft failure
Baylor’s immunotherapy technique found effective in a small clinical trial
Trial explores immunotherapy for opportunistic viruses in transplantation
HHV-6 reactivation predicts acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD)
A group from Tokyo Medical University has determined that low level HHV-6 reactivation, but not CMV, EBV or HHV-7 reactivation, is a predictive marker for the development of grade 2-4 acute GVHD after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).
Mixed and compartmentalized infections found in Japanese stem cell transplant patients
A team of Japanese investigators led by Tetsushi Yoshikawa found evidence of mixed infections of human herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B) in two out of 15 stem cell transplant patients.
HHV-6 reactivation leads to acute GVHD, increased mortality
Study links HHV-6 reactivation to increasingly poor outcome following myeloablative HSCT
HHV-6 reactivation tied to increased mortality and acute GVHD in HSCT
HHV-6 detection associated with increasingly poor outcome for stem cell transplant patients.
HHV-6 Reactivation linked to complications in Allogenic Stem Cell Transplantation
Researchers have tied HHV-6 Reactivation to GVHD, seizures, pneumonia, and encephalitis in Allo-SCT patients.