Article in Japanese

A case of human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6) encephalitis; the diagnosis is confirmed by the detection of HHV-6 with quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

Naoyuki IWATA^1,2), Mamiko SHIMIZU^1,3)

We report a case of a 2 year 7 month-old boy affected with HHV-6 encephalitis. It was difficult to determine the pathogen of encephalitis, because the elevation of three different serum antibodies against HHV-6, herpes simplex virus (HSV) and adenovirus (Ad) was detected. Identification and proliferation of the virus from target organ is useful to diagnose viral encephalitis when the serological diagnosis is difficult to achieve it. In this case, we were able to detect HHV-6 by using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and then it confirmed the diagnosis of primary encephalitis of HHV-6.

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1) Department of Pediatrics, Komaki City Hospital
2) Department of Pediatrics, Ichinomiya Municipal Hospital
3) Shimizu Children's Clinic

Key words
Received	December 8, 2010
Accepted	April 6, 2011

23 (2)：163─168,2011