Journal Published Online: 01 March 1999
Volume 44, Issue 2

Human Herpesvirus-6 and Sudden Death in Infancy: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature

CODEN: JFSCAS

Abstract

Investigation of sudden death in infancy is a vital function of the medical examiner's office. Surveillance of these cases may lead to recognition of new diseases or new manifestations of previously described diseases. Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) is a relatively newly described virus that has been recognized as a cause of acute febrile illness in early childhood. While most cases are apparently self-limited, seven fatal cases have been reported. We present a case of a seven-month-old Latin American male with recent otitis media and vomiting who was found dead in bed. Autopsy revealed interstitial pneumonitis with an atypical polymorphous lymphocytic infiltrate in the liver, kidney, heart, spleen, lymph nodes, and bone marrow, associated with erythrophagocytosis. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue was positive for HHV-6 and negative for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV). HHV-6 was also detected in the atypical lymphoid infiltrate by in-situ hybridization.

Author Information

Hoang, MP
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
Ross, KF
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences, Dallas, TX
Brian Dawson, D
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
Scheuermann, RH
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
Rogers, BB
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
Pages: 6
Price: $25.00
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Stock #: JFS14481J
ISSN: 0022-1198
DOI: 10.1520/JFS14481J