Evaluation of oral herpes simplex virus shedding among solid organ transplant recipients: A pilot study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Herpes simplex viruses (HSVs) frequently reactivate during immunosuppression and may be a risk factor for adverse outcomes after solid organ transplant (SOT). While suppressive antiviral therapy reduces the risk of symptomatic HSV reactivation, the kinetics of asymptomatic viral shedding with chronic immunosuppression after transplant are not well understood. We report the characteristics of oral HSV shedding among 15 HSV-1 seropositive SOT recipients (n = 8 liver, n = 7 kidney, median age 58.5 years, median 20 months post-transplant) who were not taking daily antiviral suppressive therapy.

Methods

Participants self-collected oral swabs three times daily for 6 weeks for HSV quantification and recorded the presence of oral symptoms or lesions in a diary.

Results

SUBMITTER: Fischer MD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11329158 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature