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Human herpesviruses-6, -7 and -8 in organ transplant recipients

N Singh1

  • 1Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh, Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. nis5+@pitt.edu

Clinical Microbiology and Infection : the Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
|February 13, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Newer herpesviruses like human herpesvirus-6, -7, and -8 are opportunistic pathogens in organ transplant recipients, causing issues like encephalitis and Kaposi

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Immunology
  • Transplant Medicine

Background:

  • Newer herpesviruses are increasingly recognized as opportunistic pathogens in organ transplant recipients.
  • Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) is linked to encephalitis and bone marrow suppression.
  • Human herpesvirus-7 (HHV-7) may influence cytomegalovirus (CMV) pathogenicity.
  • Human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) is associated with Kaposi's sarcoma.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of newer herpesviruses in organ transplant recipients.
  • To highlight the clinical significance and associations of HHV-6, HHV-7, and HHV-8.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of published data.
  • Analysis of associations between herpesviruses and transplant complications.

Main Results:

  • HHV-6 is implicated in encephalitis and bone marrow suppression.
  • HHV-6 is associated with fungal and CMV infections.
  • HHV-7 may act as an immunomodulatory agent, aiding CMV.
  • HHV-8, with variable seroprevalence, is causally linked to post-transplant Kaposi's sarcoma.

Conclusions:

  • Newer herpesviruses pose significant risks in organ transplantation.
  • Further research is needed to fully understand their pathogenicity, prophylaxis, and management.

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