Herpesvirus infections in the immunocompromised patient

The herpes group viral infections in the T cell immunocompromised host may be seen as a disturbance of a delicate balance between the host and well adapted commensals. The clinical aspect of this disturbance is highly variable but may cause the destruction of the host due to widespread organ damage or prolonged debilitating illnesses. An important aspect is the immunosuppressive effect of the infections themselves leading to a number of superinfections, often with unusual pathogens, difficult to treat. Further problems arise from the potential onchogenic effect of some of these viruses such as EBV induced lymphomas. On the threshold to the era of effective antiviral chemotherapy, two major problems are still present: identification of the precise immunological mechanisms controlling the latency/reactivation of the different viruses and the establishment of reliable methods for rapid diagnosis, crucial for the treatment of patients with atypical clinical presentation and atypical serological responses.