Understanding the association between ciHHV-6 and HIV disease

Understanding the association between ciHHV-6 and HIV disease

A group from the University of Rochester Medical Center led by Mary Caserta has conducted a cross-sectional investigation to identify evidence of a potential modifying effect of chromosomally integrated human herpes virus 6 (ciHHV-6) on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease progression and/or severity. They found 8 ciHHV-6 patients out of 439 with HIV, or a prevalence of 0.91%. After adjusting for use of antiretroviral therapy, all subjects with ciHHV-6 were found to have experienced low severity HIV disease. Although these results were not statistically significant, the authors suggest a larger study of HIV disease severity and ciHHV-6 status is needed to fully understand this relationship.

For more information, read the full paper, and visit the HHV-6 Foundation webpage on HHV-6 & HIV/AIDS progression.