HHV-6B is frequently found in the gastrointestinal tract in kidney transplantation patients

Summary In immunosuppressed patients human herpesvirus 6 (HHV‐6) reactivations are common. The aim of the study was to determine to which extent HHV‐6 can be found in the gastrointestinal tract in kidney transplant recipients and in patients on chronic dialysis. The HHV‐6 and cytomegalovirus (CMV) examinations were performed on gastro duodenal and colon biopsy specimens obtained from 81 kidney transplant recipients and on 46 chronic dialysis patients. The HHV‐6 and CMV were demonstrated by immunohistochemistry detecting both HHV‐6A and HHV‐6B, and CMV‐specific antigens. The HHV‐6B‐positive cells, were found in gastroduodenal biopsy specimens from 34% of the transplant recipients and 28% of the patients on chronic dialysis, CMV‐positive cells were found in specimens from 53% of the transplant recipients and 28% of the patients on chronic dialysis. The HHV‐6B positive cells were found in the colonic mucosa specimens from 36% of the transplant recipients and 22% of the patients on chronic dialysis, CMV‐positive cells were found in specimens from 36% of the transplant recipients and 17% of the patients on chronic dialysis. The HHV‐6B positive cells were found equally often in the gastroduodenal as in the colorectal mucosa. The HHV‐6B positive cells as well as CMV positive cells were simultaneously found in every fifth of transplant recipients.