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Encephalopathy associated with human herpesvirus 6 in a liver transplant recipient

D L Paterson1, N Singh, T Gayowski

  • 1Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15240, USA.

Liver Transplantation and Surgery : Official Publication of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the International Liver Transplantation Society
|September 9, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) can cause neurological issues like confusion in liver transplant patients. Prompt diagnosis and ganciclovir treatment are key for recovery.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Transplant Medicine
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is increasingly recognized as a pathogen in immunocompromised individuals.
  • Previous reports link HHV-6 to fever, bone marrow suppression, and rash post-liver transplantation.

Observation:

  • A 49-year-old liver transplant recipient presented with confusion, headache, and limb movements three weeks post-transplant.
  • No other pathogens were identified in the patient's blood or cerebrospinal fluid.

Findings:

  • HHV-6 was detected in the patient's peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid via polymerase chain reaction.
  • The patient showed clinical improvement following intravenous ganciclovir therapy.

Implications:

  • This case highlights HHV-6 as a potential cause of unexplained neurological symptoms in liver transplant recipients.
  • Early consideration of HHV-6 in the differential diagnosis is crucial for timely management.
  • Ganciclovir may be an effective treatment for HHV-6-associated neurological complications in transplant patients.

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