Absence of associations between influenza-associated encephalopathy and human herpesvirus 6 or human herpesvirus 7
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Published on: February 17, 2016
Jun-Ichi Kawada1, Hiroshi Kimura, Shinya Hara
1Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Japan.
Background:
Influenza-associated encephalopathy is a severe complication of influenza virus infection, but its pathogenesis is unknown. It was recently suggested that the neurologic complications of influenza, including encephalopathy, are associated with human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7). AIM To confirm or refute the association between influenza-associated encephalopathy and HHV-6 or HHV-7.
Methods:
Cerebrospinal fluid and serum from 25 patients with central nervous system complications of influenza (18 patients with encephalopathy and 7 patients with febrile convulsions) were investigated. The specimens were examined by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nested PCR for HHV-6 and HHV-7 DNA.
Results:
In the cerebrospinal fluid samples neither HHV-6 DNA nor HHV-7 DNA was detected by real time PCR or nested PCR. HHV-6 DNA was detected in a single serum sample from a patient with febrile convulsions.
Conclusion:
In our study there was no association with HHV-6 or HHV-7 in most patients with central nervous system complications of influenza.
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