Primary human herpesvirus 6 infection in liver transplant recipients

We detected primary human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) infection in 5 infants who received living related liver transplantation from their HHV-6 seropositive mothers. Primary HHV-6 infection was confirmed by demonstrating the seroco nversion of HHV-6 antibodies with an immunofluorescence assay: by the isola tion of the virus, or both. Seroconversion of HHV-6 immunoglobulin G antibo dy was demonstrated in all 5 recipients. HHV-6 was isolated from 3 of the 5 recipients between 2 and 3 weeks after transplantation, Moreover, the viru s genome was detected in plasma by polymerase chain reaction in 4 of the 5 recipients during the same period. Although the 5 recipients had pyrexia at the time of primary HHV-6 infection, none of the recipients had a skin ras h after defervescence. Clinical symptoms disappeared without specific antiv iral treatment in all but 1 of the recipients.