Human herpesvirus 6 in hematologic diseases in China
Ma, X.T.; Song, Y.H.; Lu, D.M.; Mu, G.F.; Li, G.; Ji, L.X.; Yang, R.C.; Wu, K.F.
Haematologica 85(5): 458-463
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0390-6078 PMID: 10800159 Document Number: 516612
Background and Objectives: The prevalence and pathogenic role of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) in various benign and malignant hematologic diseases remain largely unknown. The aim of this study was to search for a possible involvement of HHV-6 in the pathogenesis of hematologic diseases. Design and Methods: The presence of HHV-6 DNA sequences was examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in bone marrow mononuclear cells from 241 patients with benign and malignant hematologic diseases in China. Platelet-associated immunoglobulin (PAIg) of 66 idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) patients was measured by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The presence of HHV-6 DNA in sera from 31 ITP patients was examined by PCR. Paired serum samples from 19 ITP patients were analyzed for anti-HHV-6 IgG titers using an indirect immunofluorescence assay. Results: HHV-6 DNA was detected in 41% and 37.5% of ITP and acute leukemia patients respectively, but in only 6.7% of patients with iron deficiency anemia. HHV-6 positivity for ITP patients with excessive PAIgG was significantly higher than in patients with a normal level of PAIgG. HHV-6 DNA was not detected in any of the serum samples from ITP patients. None of the 19 cases of ITP showed a significant increase in anti-HHV-6 antibody titers during the convalescent phase compared with the onset phase. Interpretation and Conclusions: Our results indicate that HHV-6 infection might be associated with excessive PAIgG in some cases of ITP, and that the virus persists in a latent state. The pathogenic role of HHV-6 in ITP needs to be confirmed by further investigations.