Human Herpesvirus 6 Workup

  • Author: Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH; Chief Editor: William D James, MD   more...
 
Updated: Feb 27, 2012
 

Laboratory Studies

  • Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) may be diagnosed by viral culture, serologic test, or polymerase chain reaction.[21, 22, 23] Most often, it is diagnosed by its clinical features.
  • Diagnostic assays for active infection with HHV-6 are important. Neither qualitative nor quantitative PCR of plasma is insufficient to distinguish between active viral replication and chromosomal integration with HHV-6. A higher specificity may be obtained using reverse-transcriptase-PCR when evaluating samples for active HHV-6 replication.[24] A complete blood cell count with differential shows leukopenia with relative leukocytosis.
  • HHV-6 and HHV-7 antigenemia was found to usually occur together with symptomatic cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection after liver transplantation.[25] HHV-6 infection preceded CMV infection, but HHV-7 infection appeared together with CMV infection. However, further investigation of the clinical significance of HHV-6 and HHV-7 antigenemia in organ transplant patients is necessary.
  • Rapid diagnosis of HHV-6 primary infections or reactivations can be facilitated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays.[26] Detection of co-infections with multiple herpesviruses can also be accomplished, with quantitative results enabling monitoring of virus load during antiviral therapy.
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Histologic Findings

Typical balloonlike cells (cells that show cytoplasmic swelling with a loss of intercellular bridges) may be seen in all affected organs.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH  Professor and Head, Dermatology, Professor of Pathology, Pediatrics, Medicine, and Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School

Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, and Sigma Xi

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Cris Jagar  MD, Staff Physician, Department of Psychiatry, Trinitas Regional Medical Center

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Ewa Koziorynska, MD  Assistant Professor of Neurology, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center

Ewa Koziorynska, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Sigma Xi

Disclosure: none None None

Specialty Editor Board

Franklin Flowers, MD  Chief, Division of Dermatology, Professor, Department of Medicine and Otolaryngology, Affiliate Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Pathology, University of Florida College of Medicine

Franklin Flowers, MD, is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

David F Butler, MD  Professor of Dermatology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Chair, Department of Dermatology, Director, Dermatology Residency Training Program, Scott and White Clinic, Northside Clinic

David F Butler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jeffrey Meffert, MD  Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology, University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio

Jeffrey Meffert, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Texas Dermatological Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Glen H Crawford, MD  Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Chief, Division of Dermatology, The Pennsylvania Hospital

Glen H Crawford, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society of USAF Flight Surgeons

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

William D James, MD  Paul R Gross Professor of Dermatology, Vice-Chairman, Residency Program Director, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

William D James, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Elsevier Royalty Other

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