Reactivation of human herpesviruses 6 and 7 in Kawasaki disease

• Published in: Modern rheumatology 2019-07, Vol.29 (4), p.651-655
• Main Authors: Kawano, Yoshihiko, Kawada, Jun-ichi, Nagai, Noriko, Ito, Yoshinori
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Human herpesvirus 6; human herpesvirus 7; Kawasaki disease
• ISSN: 1439-7595; 1439-7609
• DOI: 10.1080/14397595.2018.1510758

Objectives: Kawasaki disease (KD) is one of the most common childhood vasculitides. Some serological studies have suggested an etiological relationship between KD and human herpesvirus (HHV)-6 or HHV-7. However, primary or reactivated HHV-6 and -7 has not been fully investigated in patients with KD. Methods: Twenty-three patients with KD were prospectively enrolled in this study. Peripheral blood was collected in the acute and convalescence phases, and HHV-6 and -7 viral loads were measured by real-time PCR. Results: In the acute phase, HHV-6 and -7 DNA was detected in 7 (30%) patients each, compared to 13 (57%) and 9 (39%) patients in the convalescence phase, respectively. HHV-6 and -7 DNA loads were significantly higher in the convalescence phase than in the acute phase. Significant increases in HHV-6 and -7 DNA loads were not observed in disease control patients. Taking into account HHV-6 and -7 serostatus, reactivation of HHV-6 and -7 was observed in 7 and 9 patients, respectively. KD patients with HHV-6 reactivation showed higher C-reactive protein levels and more frequently required steroid therapies than patients without reactivation. Conclusion: HHV-6 and -7 reactivation is frequent in KD patients. HHV-6 reactivation might exacerbate the severity of KD.