{"title":"Importance of chromosomally integrated HHV-6A and -6B in the diagnosis of active HHV-6 infection.","authors":"Duncan A Clark, Katherine N Ward","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) exists as two closely related variants: A and B. Whereas no disease has been firmly associated with HHV-6A, variant B causes febrile illness in young children and is pathogenic in immunosuppressed transplant recipients. Chromosomally integrated HHV-6 (with either variant A or B) occurs in a minority of people. This phenomenon has the potential to confound the diagnosis of active HHV-6 infection, since chromosomally integrated HHV-6 DNA sequences are inherited through the germline. Therefore, viral DNA is in every nucleated cell in the body and can be found in a range of body fluids including whole blood, serum, plasma and cerebrospinal fluid. There are characteristically very high viral loads in whole blood (> 6 log10 HHV-6 genomes/ml) and serum (5 log10 HHV-6 genomes/ml); these can be used to differentiate individuals with viral chromosomal integration from those with active HHV-6 infection, where viral loads are significantly lower. Increasingly, the polymerase chain reaction (to detect viral nucleic acid) is used for diagnosis; therefore, it is important to exclude HHV-6 chromosomal integration before concluding that there is evidence of active HHV-6 infection.</p>","PeriodicalId":83725,"journal":{"name":"Herpes : the journal of the IHMF","volume":"15 2","pages":"28-32"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"28457551","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Tailoring herpes labialis treatments.","authors":"Antonio Volpi, Lawrence Stanberry","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":83725,"journal":{"name":"Herpes : the journal of the IHMF","volume":"14 3","pages":"55"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"27349394","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Georges Brousse, Julie Geneste, Audrey Schmitt, Pierre Michel Llorca, Jeannot Schmidt
{"title":"Recurrent herpes and post-traumatic stress disorder.","authors":"Georges Brousse, Julie Geneste, Audrey Schmitt, Pierre Michel Llorca, Jeannot Schmidt","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A 33-year-old male presented with recurrent outbreaks of perioral herpes of disfiguring nature that remained unresolved following therapy. The first perioral outbreak occurred following a road accident. The psychiatric interview conducted with the patient suggested post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) secondary to the accident. Venlafaxine 50 mg/day was initiated and led to resolution of the PTSD symptoms within 8 weeks. The patient did not experience any further herpes outbreaks for about 10 months. Control of stress disorders in recurrent herpes is discussed from a therapeutic perspective.</p>","PeriodicalId":83725,"journal":{"name":"Herpes : the journal of the IHMF","volume":"14 3","pages":"72-4"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"27349398","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Management and prevention of recurrent herpes labialis in immunocompetent patients.","authors":"Stanley C Gilbert","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A range of topical and systemic therapies exists for treating recurrent herpes labialis. Among the topical agents, aciclovir and its derivatives can lessen the symptoms and duration of disease if applied frequently in the proper vehicle and started during the prodromal phase. Delivering these agents to the lesion via novel devices or vehicles may enhance their topical efficacy in the future. Among the systemic agents, new high-dose, 1-day regimens using either famciclovir or valaciclovir offer greater convenience and cost-effectiveness compared with traditional 5-7-day therapy. Combining either topical or systemic antinucleoside agents with topical anti-inflammatories such as corticosteroids may also lead to enhanced efficacy. Novel agents such as docosanol, toll-like receptor agonists, and viral ribonucleoside reductase inhibitors may also play a larger role in the future.</p>","PeriodicalId":83725,"journal":{"name":"Herpes : the journal of the IHMF","volume":"14 3","pages":"56-61"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"27349395","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The continuing evolution of antiviral therapy for recurrent genital herpes: 1-day patient-initiated treatment with famciclovir.","authors":"Fred Y Aoki","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Increased understanding of the clinical and virological characteristics of recurrent genital herpes simplex virus infection in healthy adults, recognition of the critical importance of early initiation of therapy, which is best achieved by self-initiated therapy, and an appreciation of the excellent tolerance and safety of relatively high doses of available antiviral drugs have facilitated refinements to treatment regimens that are more convenient as well as efficacious and well-tolerated. This paper reviews the progressive convergence of these concepts to an efficacious, well-tolerated, 1-day, patient-initiated regimen for treating episodes of recurrent genital herpes.</p>","PeriodicalId":83725,"journal":{"name":"Herpes : the journal of the IHMF","volume":"14 3","pages":"62-5"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"27349396","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cytomegalovirus retinitis in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy.","authors":"Sanjay R Kedhar, Douglas A Jabs","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common opportunistic infection in individuals with AIDS. Moreover, CMV retinitis represents a significant portion of end-organ disease in patients with CMV and AIDS. Prior to the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), almost one-third of people with AIDS developed CMV retinitis during their lifetime. Although effective therapies for CMV infection had been developed, treatment was often life-long due to persistent immune deficiency. Despite chronic suppressive maintenance therapy, disease relapse was nearly universal, and development of drug resistance was not uncommon. Widespread use of HAART has reduced the incidence and complications of CMV retinitis. With sustained immune recovery, discontinuation of anti-CMV therapy has been possible in many patients. Still, immune recovery does not guarantee protection from recurrent disease. CMV retinitis and uveitis associated with immune recovery remain causes of vision loss in this population and demand vigilance on the part of physicians.</p>","PeriodicalId":83725,"journal":{"name":"Herpes : the journal of the IHMF","volume":"14 3","pages":"66-71"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"27349397","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Prevention strategies: experience of varicella vaccination programmes.","authors":"David Patrick","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Widespread immunization programmes have had a dramatic effect on the morbidity associated with varicella in the USA; mortality has declined by 66% (from 0.41 to 0.14 deaths / million population) and the reduction in hospitalizations is at least 4-fold (from 2.7 to 0.6/100,000 population) compared with the pre-vaccination era. Although varicella outbreaks have occurred in vaccination areas, these data may underestimate the true efficacy of the varicella vaccine, and there is still the potential for two-dose programmes, which have not yet been fully explored in the USA or Canada. Catch-up vaccination programmes have also been regarded as an important approach in susceptible individuals, including women of childbearing potential. Periodic exposure (boosts) to vaccines may potentially help prevent the reactivation of herpes zoster and accumulation of susceptibility in these at-risk groups. Pregnant women may also benefit from prophylaxis with varicella zoster immunoglobulin (VZIG) or possibly with aciclovir. Ongoing surveillance for the reactivation of herpes zoster and safety programmes are also highlighted as key recommendations.</p>","PeriodicalId":83725,"journal":{"name":"Herpes : the journal of the IHMF","volume":"14 Suppl 2 ","pages":"48-51"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"27050655","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lara Quirino Araújo, C Raina Macintyre, Claudia Vujacich
{"title":"Epidemiology and burden of herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia in Australia, Asia and South America.","authors":"Lara Quirino Araújo, C Raina Macintyre, Claudia Vujacich","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Following the development of a herpes zoster vaccine and the successful introduction of widespread varicella vaccination in the USA, many countries are considering similar vaccination programmes. However, before implementing such programmes, it is important to describe the regional baselines of varicella and herpes zoster epidemiology, both to aid the design of vaccination strategies and to observe trends after the introduction of vaccination. In many areas of the world, this information is difficult to gather, and the epidemiology of herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia in these regions is poorly understood. In Australia, available national data sources of varicella and herpes zoster, including serological data, provide reliable estimates of disease and reveal similar rates of incidence and complications to those in Europe and the USA. However, the average age of infection in Australia is higher than in Europe and in the USA. Epidemiological data from Asia and South America are scarce. Unexpectedly for tropical countries, the incidences of herpes zoster in Asia and South America also appear to be comparable with those in Europe and the USA, despite the delayed acquisition of varicella-zoster virus infection in Asia. In Brazil, there is some evidence for higher than expected incidence rates for herpes zoster in young adults. The epidemiology of herpes zoster in Asia and South America suggests that recommendations on treatment and prevention from Europe and the USA may be relevant to these countries.</p>","PeriodicalId":83725,"journal":{"name":"Herpes : the journal of the IHMF","volume":"14 Suppl 2 ","pages":"40-4"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"27051809","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
André Breddemann, Stephanie Läer, Klaus G Schmidt, Malte Harjes, Rüdiger Adam, Amei Ludwig, Tim Niehues, Dominik T Schneider
{"title":"Case report: severe gastrointestinal inflammation and persistent HHV-6B infection in a paediatric cancer patient.","authors":"André Breddemann, Stephanie Läer, Klaus G Schmidt, Malte Harjes, Rüdiger Adam, Amei Ludwig, Tim Niehues, Dominik T Schneider","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lymphotropic herpesviruses such as human herpesvirus type 6 (HHV-6) have enhanced pathogenicity in some immunocompromised hosts, such as transplant recipients and HIV-infected patients. The clinical relevance of HHV-6 infections in cancer patients undergoing conventional cytotoxic therapy is undetermined, however. Here we report on a 10-month-old boy with an anaplastic astrocytoma, who acquired an HHV-6 variant B infection during chemotherapy. HHV-6B infection caused or triggered severe gastrointestinal inflammation with intractable diarrhoea and failure to thrive over several months. The clinical symptoms were associated with pronounced (CD4) lymphopenia and a marked increase in serum immunoglobulin A levels. After unsuccessful therapy with ganciclovir and foscarnet, combined antiviral and anti-inflammatory treatment with cidofovir and prednisolone controlled the HHV-6 infection and enabled resolution of clinical symptoms.</p>","PeriodicalId":83725,"journal":{"name":"Herpes : the journal of the IHMF","volume":"14 2","pages":"41-4"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"27050660","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pasquale Niscola, Alessio Pio Perrotti, Giovanni del Poeta, Claudio Romani, Massimiliano Palombi, Daniela Piccioni, Laura Scaramucci, Barbara Tolu, Andrea Tendas, Luca Cupelli, Elisabetta Abruzzese, Gianna Maria D'Elia, Gregorio Antonio Brunetti, Luca Maurillo, Marco Giovannini, Claudio Cartoni, Paolo de Fabritiis
{"title":"Case reports: zoster pain in haematological malignancies: effective pain relief with oxycodone in patients unresponsive to other analgesic measures.","authors":"Pasquale Niscola, Alessio Pio Perrotti, Giovanni del Poeta, Claudio Romani, Massimiliano Palombi, Daniela Piccioni, Laura Scaramucci, Barbara Tolu, Andrea Tendas, Luca Cupelli, Elisabetta Abruzzese, Gianna Maria D'Elia, Gregorio Antonio Brunetti, Luca Maurillo, Marco Giovannini, Claudio Cartoni, Paolo de Fabritiis","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Varicella zoster virus (VZV) outbreak is a significant cause of morbidity in patients suffering from blood-related malignancies, occurring mostly among those affected by lymphoproliferative disorders and in those receiving haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation. The elucidated pathological mechanisms of VZV-related painful complications have provided the rationale for acute zoster pain (AZP) and post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) treatment with antiviral therapy combined with neuroactive agents, such as tricyclic or anticonvulsant agents. The role of opioids in this setting is less clearly established. We successfully treated (with oxycodone) 12 consecutive patients suffering from AZP and long-lasting PHN resistant to several agents, including anticonvulsants and analgesics. Our experience is reported together with a brief overview of the management of these often distressing and intractable complications.</p>","PeriodicalId":83725,"journal":{"name":"Herpes : the journal of the IHMF","volume":"14 2","pages":"45-7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"27050661","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}