PEDIATRICS · 2000 · 40 citations · 16 references
MedicineNeurologyPathologyMolecular VirologyNeuroinfectious DiseasesVirologyDna Virus BiologyEncephalitisNeuropathology Of InfectionViral DiagnosticsViral InfectionsViral PathologyDna In Situ HybridizationHemorrhagic Viral DiseaseHuman Herpesvirus 6 InfectionNeuropathologic Autopsy FindingsPontine NucleiPontine TegmentumPrimary InfectionViral Encephalitis
A 23-month-old girl died after 2 days' illness with rash, fever, and convulsions. Neuropathologic findings were consistent with viral hemorrhagic encephalitis in pontine tegmentum and medial thalamic areas. Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) DNA was detected in pontine nuclei by in situ hybridization. In addition, polymerase chain reaction for HHV-6 of serum and paraffin-embedded pontine tissue was positive, and serology indicated an acute primary infection. This is the first case showing HHV-6 DNA in the brain cells of an immunocompetent patient with acute encephalitis.
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