Human Herpes Virus 6 Encephalitis Following Bone Marrow Transplantation with Uncommon Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings

BACKGROUND: Human Herpes Virus 6 (HHV6) is commonly associated with encephalitis following bone marrow transplantation. However, hippocampal atrophy and global hypometabolism are rare findings in HHV6 encephalitis. CASE REPORT: A 41-year-old right-handed woman with acute lymphoblastic leukemia presented with fever and mental changes 2 weeks after receiving a sibling bone marrow transplant. The patient's cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was positive for HHV-6 deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), but was negative for other viral DNA. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed atrophic changes in bilateral medial temporal lobes. Following 4 weeks of ganciclovir therapy, a CSF exam was negative for HHV-6 DNA and the patient's neurological symptoms partially improved. However, she was disoriented and had severe retrograde and anterograde amnesia. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography indicated global hypometabolism in the medial temporal lobes and the fronto-parietal cortices. CONCLUSIONS: This is a rare and unusual case of hippocampal atrophy in the acute stage of HHV6 encephalitis. Our imaging findings may reflect the chronic indolent course of HHV6 encephalitis