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HHV‐6 DNA throughout the tissues of two stem cell transplant patients with chromosomally integrated HHV‐6 and fatal CMV pneumonitis
Author(s) -
Hubacek Petr,
Virgili Anna,
Ward Katherine N.,
Pohlreich David,
Keslova Petra,
Goldova Barbora,
Markova Marketa,
Zajac Miroslav,
Cinek Ondrej,
Nacheva Elisabeth P.,
Sedlacek Petr,
Cetkovsky Petr
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2009.07622.x
Subject(s) - pneumonitis , stem cell , cytomegalovirus , haematopoiesis , biology , betaherpesvirinae , herpesviridae , virology , immunology , pathology , virus , medicine , lung , viral disease , genetics
Summary Two patients with the characteristic high human herpesvirus 6 (HHV‐6) DNA loads in peripheral blood caused by chromosomally integrated (CI) virus received a haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) from a donor without CI HHV‐6. Both patients died in consequence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonitis. At autopsy, high amounts of CMV DNA were detected in lungs but at much lower levels in other organs. In contrast HHV‐6 DNA was detected at high levels throughout the organs with the exception of donor‐derived haematopoietic tissue. In individuals with chromosomal integration, HHV‐6 DNA is found in every tissue of recipient origin indicating inheritance through the germ line.