Expert Rev Mol Med. 1997 Nov 5;1:1-17
Dewhurst S, Skrincosky D, van Loon N.
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Cancer Center, University
of Rochester Medical Center, 575 Elmwood Avenue, Box 672, Rochester, NY
14642, USA. dwrt@bphvax.biophysics.rochester.edu
Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is a T-lymphotropic herpesvirus, which infects almost all children by the age of two years and persists lifelong.
Two distinct variants of HHV-6, HHV-6A and HHV-6B, have been described, and the latter has been shown to be a common cause of acute febrile illnesses in young children, including exanthem subitum (roseola).
HHV-6 has also been associated with a number of neurological disorders, including encephalitis and seizures, and the virus has been postulated to play a role in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), multiple sclerosis (MS) and chronic fatigue immunodeficiency syndrome (CFIDS).
This review provides a critical summary of research conducted on HHV-6.