Involvement of Human Herpesvirus 6 Infection in Renal Dysfunction Associated with DIHS/DRESS

Drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome/drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DIHS/ DRESS) is a life-threatening multi-organ hypersensitivity reaction that appears after prolonged exposure to a limited number of drugs. DIHS/DRESS is often related to reactivation of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) (1–3). Renal dysfunction sometimes affects the prognosis (4). However, the pathomechanism of DIHS/DRESS-related renal dysfunction remains unknown. We report here a patient with DIHS/DRESS in whom HHV-6 infection may have been involved in the pathogenesis of renal failure.