Up-regulation of Human Herpesvirus 6B-derived microRNAs in the Serum of Patients with Drug-induced Hypersensitivity Syndrome/Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms.

Drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome/drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DIHS/DRESS) is a life-threatening multi-organ hypersensitivity reaction. Reactivation of human herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B), which typically occurs 2-3 weeks after its onset, has been implicated in DIHS/DRESS (1). Reactivation of HHV-6 has been reported to correlate with flaring of symptoms such as fever and hepatitis (2) and renal failure (3) in patients with DIHS/DRESS, indicating that virus reactivation could contribute to some symptoms or complications in DIHS/DRESS. However, it has also been reported that reactivation of HHV-6 could be merely a result of a strong drug-specific immune response and not contribute to DRESS symptoms and severity (4).