Detection of human herpes virus 6 (HHV 6) in the skin of a patient with primary HHV 6 infection and erythroderma. Issue 8 (August 1994)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sumiyoshi, Y; Akashi, K; Kikuchi, M
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical pathology. Volume 47:Issue 8(1994)
• Page Start: 762
• Page End: 763
• Publication Date: 1994-08
• Subjects: Pathology -- Periodicals; Pathology, Molecular -- Periodicals; 616.0705
• DOI: 10.1136/jcp.47.8.762
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9746

Abstract

Abstract : Human herpes virus 6 (HHV 6) has been implicated as the causative agent of exanthema subitum in young children. Recently, we reported two cases of a severe, infectious, mononucleosis-like syndrome resulting from a primary HHV 6 infection in immunocompetent adults. Both of these patients had the skin condition generally referred to as "erythroderma". A skin-biopsy specimen from one of them, a 43 year old man, was examined. Using immunohistochemical staining and in situ hybridisation, lymphocytes infected with HHV 6 were found in the skin. It is proposed that the erythroderma in immunocompetent adults infected with primary HHV 6 is provoked by infiltration of infected inflammatory cells or infected neoplastic lymphocytes into the dermis.