Human herpesvirus-6 reactivation is associated with cytomegalovirus infection and syndromes in kidney transplant recipients at risk for primary cytomegalovirus infection

A potential association between human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) following kidney transplantation was explored by retrospectively testing serial serum speci-mens for HHV-6 IgG and IgM antibody. HHV-6 reactivation occurred in 35 (66%) of 53 transplant recipients. Fungal or parasitic opportunistic infections, graft rejection or loss, and mortality were not associated with HHV-6 reactivation. HHV-6 reactivation was associated with primary CMV infection ( ) and CMV syndrome ( ) and with trends forP 5.001 P 5.003 CMV-related hepatitis (), CMV-related neutropenia (), and serious CMVP 5.095 P 5.104 disease (). After controlling for CMV immune globulin (CMVIG) prophylaxis, theP 5.085 association between HHV-6 reactivation and primary CMV infection and syndrome remained signi®cant ( and 0.006, respectively). The reduction in CMV syndrome among thoseP 5.002 receiving CMVIG prophylaxis remained signi®cant ( ) after controlling for HHV-6P 5.007 reactivation. HHV-6 reactivation in kidney transplant recipients at risk for primary CMV infection is associated with CMV infection and CMV-related disease, and these effects are independent of CMVIG prophylaxis. Infection with human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is common fol