Severe human herpesvirus 6-associated encephalopathy in three children: analysis of cytokine profiles and the carnitine palmitoyltransferase 2 gene

Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2011 Nov;30(11):999-1001. doi: 10.1097/INF.0b013e3182242065.

Abstract

Three children developed severe encephalopathy associated with human herpesvirus 6 infection. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed either basal ganglia involvement or diffusion abnormalities in the cerebral white matter. Coagulopathy with hypercytokinemia was observed in 2 patients. One demonstrated thermolabile variation in carnitine palmitoyltransferase 2. These results suggest a heterogeneous pathogenic mechanism in encephalopathy associated with human herpesvirus 6 infection.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Basal Ganglia / enzymology
  • Basal Ganglia / immunology
  • Basal Ganglia / physiopathology*
  • Basal Ganglia / virology
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Brain Diseases, Metabolic / blood
  • Brain Diseases, Metabolic / complications
  • Brain Diseases, Metabolic / immunology
  • Brain Diseases, Metabolic / physiopathology*
  • Brain Diseases, Metabolic / virology
  • Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase / blood
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cytokines / blood
  • Cytokines / immunology
  • Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / blood
  • Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / complications
  • Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / immunology
  • Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / physiopathology*
  • Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / virology
  • Electroencephalography
  • Encephalitis, Viral / blood
  • Encephalitis, Viral / complications
  • Encephalitis, Viral / immunology
  • Encephalitis, Viral / physiopathology*
  • Encephalitis, Viral / virology
  • Female
  • Herpesvirus 6, Human
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Japan
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Neurotoxicity Syndromes / blood
  • Neurotoxicity Syndromes / complications
  • Neurotoxicity Syndromes / immunology
  • Neurotoxicity Syndromes / physiopathology*
  • Neurotoxicity Syndromes / virology
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Roseolovirus Infections / blood
  • Roseolovirus Infections / complications
  • Roseolovirus Infections / immunology
  • Roseolovirus Infections / physiopathology*
  • Roseolovirus Infections / virology
  • Th1-Th2 Balance

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Cytokines
  • Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase