Assessment of HHV-6 and HHV-7 in patients after kidney transplantation

Human herpesviruses HHV-6 and HHV-7 reactivation in transplantation is associated with indirect immunomodulatory effects, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease, increased opportunistic infections, graft dysfunction and acute rejection (AR). In this study, we analysed the clinical and immunological outcomes in renal transplant recipients (RTR) with active HHV-6 and HHV-7 infection. Between January 2007 and December 2007, clinical, virological and immunological tests were carried out in 46 RTR. The patients were divided into three groups: with active HHV-6 infection; with active HHV-7 infection; and without infection (control). The mean follow-up was 14 ± 2.5 months. At three months after renal transplantation (RT), active CMV infection was present in 12 (26%); HHV-6 in four (8.6%); and HHV-7 in nine (19.5%) of RTR. Active ß-herpesviruses infection was not associated with more frequent AR and worsening of graft function in recipients at different times after RT. The lymphocyte subsets (CD3+; CD4+ and CD8+ cell count) were considerably lower in RTR before RT. At 3 months after RT CD19+ and CD25+ cell counts were significantly increased in the HHV-7 group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Significant differences were not found in clinical and immunological outcomes between patients with active ß-herpesviruses infection and those without active ß-herpesviruses infection.