Wykorzystanie serologicznych i molekularnych metod w diagnostyce pierwotnego ostrego zapalenia wątroby spowodowanego przez ludzki herpeswirus typu 6 – opis przypadku
[Serological and molecular methods in diagnostics of primary acute hepatitis caused with human herpesvirus type 6 – a case report]

STRESZCZENIE

Opisano przypadek ostrego zapalenia wątroby spowodowanego przez pierwotne zakażenie ludzkim herpeswirusem typu 6 u 18-letniego mężczyzny bez zaburzeń odporności. Przeprowadzono badania wirusologiczne z wykorzystaniem technik serologicznych oraz metody real-time PCR w kierunku wirusa cytomegalii, herpeswirusa typu 6 oraz wirusa Epsteina-Barr. Wykazano przydatność wielokierunkowych badań z użyciem techniki real-time PCR w wykrywaniu i monitorowaniu zakażeń spowodowanych przez herpeswirusy, zwłaszcza o niskim poziomie replikacji.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: HHV-6 has been identified as the etiologic agent of exanthema subitum in infants and acute febrile illness in young children, although primary HHV-6 infection in immunocompetent adolescents and adults is very rare. We report the case of acute hepatitis in an 18-year-old man without any immunological dysfunctions.

Material and methods: Full virological examination of sera samples was performed. Specimens were tested for the presence of specific anti-EBV and anti-HHV-6 antibodies and also for the presence of DNA of other herpesviruses, using qPCR assays.

Results: Obtained results demonstrated the presence of HHV-6 DNA in all examined sera samples and IgM-class antibodies against HHV-6 in the second specimen. No other etiologic agents were found that are known to induce hepatitis. Hence, patient was diagnosed as having acute hepatitis triggered by HHV-6.

Conclusions: We found that qPCR is a very useful tool for the detection of different herpesvirus. infections, especially with low-copy viraemia in clinical specimens.

Key words: hepatitis, herpesvirus infections, human herpesvirus 6, serological methods,real-time PCR