Abstract
One-half of bone-marrow transplant (BMT) and stem-cell transplant recipients have reactivation of latent human herpesvirus (HHV)-6 2-4 weeks after transplant. Although the detection of viral DNA, RNA, and antigen in brain material confirmed active HHV-6 variant B infection, peak viral loads in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum occurred 2-4 weeks before death and decreased to low levels before or at autopsy. All autopsy samples consistently demonstrated HHV-6 active infection in the hippocampus. Astrocytic cells positive for viral antigen provided support for an HHV-6-specific tropism for hippocampal astrocytes. HHV-6 DNA in CSF and serum may not reflect the level of active viral infection in the brain after BMT.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Antigens, Viral / isolation & purification
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Astrocytes / virology
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Bone Marrow Transplantation*
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Brain Diseases / diagnosis*
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Brain Diseases / pathology
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Brain Diseases / virology
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DNA, Viral / blood
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DNA, Viral / cerebrospinal fluid
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DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
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DNA-Binding Proteins / isolation & purification
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Death*
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Herpesvirus 6, Human / genetics
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Herpesvirus 6, Human / immunology
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Herpesvirus 6, Human / isolation & purification*
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Hippocampus / cytology
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Hippocampus / virology*
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Humans
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Immunohistochemistry
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Leukocytes, Mononuclear
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Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Postoperative Complications*
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RNA, Messenger / analysis
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RNA, Viral / analysis
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Roseolovirus Infections / diagnosis*
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Roseolovirus Infections / pathology
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Roseolovirus Infections / virology
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Viral Proteins / genetics
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Viral Proteins / isolation & purification
Substances
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Antigens, Viral
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DNA, Viral
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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RNA, Messenger
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RNA, Viral
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Viral Proteins
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p41 protein, Human herpesvirus 6