Reactivation of human herpesviruses 6 and 7 in Kawasaki disease

Abstract

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.

Keywords:

• Human herpesvirus 6
• human herpesvirus 7
• Kawasaki disease

Conflict of interest

None.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by a grant from the Japanese Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases (to Y.K.) and a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan [to J.K. (17K10107)].