Successful treatment and FDG-PET/CT monitoring of HHV-6 encephalitis in a non-neutropenic patient: case report and literature review.
Elda RighiAlessia CarneluttiDaniele MuserFrancesco ZajaElisa LucchiniFederico PeaFernando Di GregorioAbass AlaviMatteo BassettiPublished in: Journal of neurovirology (2017)
Human herpesvirus (HHV)-6 reactivation is associated with severe forms of encephalitis among patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Cases in non-neutropenic patients are uncommon. The efficacy of ganciclovir and other compounds that are used for the treatment of HHV-6 encephalitis remains suboptimal and linked to toxicity. Valganciclovir, the oral prodrug of ganciclovir, could be practical to treat outpatients, but it is not commonly used for severe cases. We report a case of HHV-6 encephalitis in a non-neutropenic patient successfully treated with valganciclovir and undergoing therapeutic drug monitoring in plasma and in the cerebrospinal fluid. Resolution of infectious foci was documented by cerebral MRI and F18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT). A review of the literature on HHV-6 encephalitis is also reported.
Keyphrases
- positron emission tomography
- computed tomography
- patients undergoing
- magnetic resonance imaging
- cerebrospinal fluid
- pet ct
- end stage renal disease
- case report
- contrast enhanced
- pet imaging
- chronic kidney disease
- ejection fraction
- newly diagnosed
- endothelial cells
- acute myeloid leukemia
- dual energy
- magnetic resonance
- prognostic factors
- subarachnoid hemorrhage
- patient reported
- smoking cessation
- drug induced
- drug release