Abstract
Fatal myocarditis is a rare complication in immunosuppressed children. Recent reports have linked human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) infection, typically a benign infection in childhood, with myocarditis. HHV-6 can reactivate during periods of immunosuppression. Here, we report 2 cases in which children were immunosuppressed, one for treatment of Evans syndrome and the other post hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, who developed rapid and fatal HHV-6-associated myocarditis. These cases suggest that HHV-6 infection should be considered as an etiology of myocarditis in immunosuppressed patients regardless of correlating blood levels. Early treatment of HHV-6 in patients with myocarditis could improve morbidity and mortality.
Original language | English |
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Article number | e20151352 |
Journal | Pediatrics |
Volume | 137 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2016 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords*
- Adolescent
- Child, Preschool
- Fatal Outcome
- Female
- Herpesviridae Infections/complications
- Herpesvirus 6, Human
- Humans
- Immunocompromised Host
- Male
- Myocarditis/complications
Field of Science*
- 3.2 Clinical medicine
- 3.3 Health sciences
Publication Type*
- 1.1. Scientific article indexed in Web of Science and/or Scopus database