Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 27, 2026

Plaquing of Herpes Simplex Viruses
Published on: November 5, 2021
Human Herpes Virus 6 Encephalitis Following Bone Marrow Transplantation with Uncommon Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Jihye Hwang1, Ji Eun Kim1, Jee Hoon Roh1
1Department of Neurology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Background:
Human Herpes Virus 6 (HHV6) is commonly associated with encephalitis following bone marrow transplantation. However, hippocampal atrophy and global hypometabolism are rare findings in HHV6 encephalitis.
Case Report:
A 41-year-old right-handed woman with acute lymphoblastic leukemia presented with fever and mental changes 2 weeks after receiving a sibling bone marrow transplant. The patient's cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was positive for HHV-6 deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), but was negative for other viral DNA. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed atrophic changes in bilateral medial temporal lobes. Following 4 weeks of ganciclovir therapy, a CSF exam was negative for HHV-6 DNA and the patient's neurological symptoms partially improved. However, she was disoriented and had severe retrograde and anterograde amnesia. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography indicated global hypometabolism in the medial temporal lobes and the fronto-parietal cortices.
Conclusions:
This is a rare and unusual case of hippocampal atrophy in the acute stage of HHV6 encephalitis. Our imaging findings may reflect the chronic indolent course of HHV6 encephalitis.
Related Concept Videos
Bone Marrow Sampling and Transplants
The transplant begins with high doses of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, which aim to destroy...
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Imaging Studies IV: Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Atomic Nuclei: Magnetic Resonance
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR): Overview
NMR spectroscopy generates a spectrum where the characteristic absorption frequencies of the sample are...
Resonance

