Fatal hemophagocytic syndrome related to human herpesvirus-6 reinfection following liver transplantation: a case report.

Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) has been identified as the causal agent of exanthema subitum in early childhood (also called sixth disease or roseola), a mononucleosis-like disease in adults, and as an opportunistic pathogen in transplant recipients. In the latter setting, most infections are caused by reactivation of the latent virus in the recipient and generally have a paucisymptomatic course. Only limited data on HHV-6 infection are available for liver transplant recipients. Herein we have reported a case of fatal hemophagocytic syndrome related to HHV-6 reactivation 2 weeks after liver transplantation (LT). This case suggests that this virus may be a serious and potentially life-threatening pathogen following LT.