HSCT patients with HHV-6 reactivation have significantly worse survival rates and higher rates of acute GVHD

Investigators in Yokohama, Japan studied 236 patients who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and found that the 59% with HHV-6 reactivation had significantly higher non-relapse mortality (28% vs 14%) as well as worse overall survival at three years (42% vs. 59%). Subgroup analysis indicated that HHV-6 reactivation with associated acute GVHD was primarily found in the group with myeloablative conditioning. HHV-6 was also associated with a higher rate of CMV reactivation.

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Source: Aoki 2015, Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation