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The impact of human herpesvirus‐6 and ‐7 infection on the outcome of liver transplantation
Author(s) -
Razonable Raymund R.,
Paya Carlos V.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
liver transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.814
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1527-6473
pISSN - 1527-6465
DOI - 10.1053/jlts.2002.34966
Subject(s) - human herpesvirus 6 , medicine , liver transplantation , coinfection , immunology , pneumonitis , cytomegalovirus , rash , transplantation , encephalitis , hepatitis , cirrhosis , latency (audio) , herpesviridae , virology , virus , viral disease , lung , electrical engineering , engineering
Human herpesvirus (HHV)‐6 and ‐7 are novel members of the β‐herpesvirus family that maintain latency in the human host after primary infection. Reactivation from latency and/or increased degree of viral replication occurs during periods of immune dysfunction. The clinical effect of HHV‐6 and HHV‐7 reactivation in recipients of liver transplants is now being recognized. Clinical illnesses such as fever, rash, pneumonitis, encephalitis, hepatitis, and myelosuppression have been described in a number of anecdotal reports. Moreover, a growing body of evidence suggests that the more important effect of HHV‐6 and HHV‐7 reactivation on the outcomes of liver transplantation may be mediated indirectly by their interactions with the other β‐herpesvirus—cytomegalovirus (CMV). Coinfection among these three β‐herpesviruses in clinical syndromes that were classically ascribed to be solely caused by CMV has been shown and has raised substantial interest in the potential role of HHV‐6 and HHV‐7 as copathogens in the direct and indirect illnesses caused by CMV. This article reviews the current scientific data on the role and the magnitude of impact of HHV‐6 and HHV‐7 infection on the outcomes of liver transplantation.