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Human herpesvirus 6 encephalitis associated with hypersensitivity syndrome
Author(s) -
Fujino Yasuhiro,
Nakajima Masashi,
Inoue Hirosato,
Kusuhara Tomohiko,
Yamada Tatsuo
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/ana.10194
Subject(s) - human herpesvirus 6 , encephalitis , lymphocytosis , medicine , eosinophilia , immunology , hypersensitivity reaction , cerebrospinal fluid , seroconversion , virology , pathology , herpesviridae , virus , viral disease
Abstract Hypersensitivity syndrome, a serious systematic reaction to a limited number of drugs, is associated with the reactivation of human herpesvirus 6. A 56‐year‐old man developed acute limbic encephalitis followed by multiple organ failure during the course of toxic dermatitis induced by aromatic anticonvulsants. The clinical features of skin eruptions, high fever, eosinophilia, and atypical lymphocytosis were compatible with drug hypersensitivity syndrome. The patient showed seroconversion for human herpesvirus 6, and polymerase chain reaction detected human herpesvirus 6 DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid. To our knowledge, this is the first report of human herpesvirus 6 encephalitis associated with hypersensitivity syndrome.