HHV-6 has been identified as the aetiologic agent of exanthem subitum in infants and an acute febrile illness in young children. HHV-6 probably remains latent in the body after the primary infection and it reactivates upon host immunosuppression in a manner similar to other human herpes viruses. Primary HHV-6 infection in adults is very rare and it is not clear whether disease manifestations are similar to those observed in children.We report the case of acute hepatitis in a 18-year-old immunocompetent woman presenting with sever jaundice and liver dysfunction. Serum immunoglobulin levels were elevated (3.8 gr/dl) with a titre of anti nucleus antibody of 1:640. Serological data demonstrated the presence of IgM antibodies against human herpesvirus-6 in the serum and of viral DNA on liver biopsy by real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, with a viral load of 280 genomes/10 6 of cellular genomes. No other etiologic agents were found to induce hepatitis and the patient was diagnosed as having HHV-6 triggered autoimmune acute hepatitis.

Our data demonstrated that PRFT measurement could be used as an early predictor of IMT increase in HIV-1-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy.

In our small study, US seemed to underestimate hidden liver fibrosis in intestinal schistosomiasis. In some European clinical settings, histological evaluation by liver biopsy may be a useful tool to detect early liver pathology in schistosomiasis mansoni. These findings could provide additional information for studies from endemic areas where US is commonly used for morbidity assessment.

We consider the ratio between visceral adipose tissue and subcutaneous adipose tissue and the thickness of malar fat to be the most useful ultrasonographic parameters for the early diagnosis of lipodystrophy in HIV-infected patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Purpose.To compare contrast‐enhanced sonography (CEUS) with contrast‐enhanced CT in the assessment of nontraumatic focal lesions of the spleen.Methods.CEUS and CT findings in 22 patients with fever of unknown origin and ultrasound‐detected splenic focal lesions were analyzed retrospectively. CEUS was performed using an ultrasound unit equipped with a 3.6‐MHz probe and contrast‐specific software. A 4‐ml bolus of second‐generation contrast medium was used. The CEUS examinations included a 4‐minute recording following injection of the contrast medium. MRI, splenic biopsy, or ultrasound follow‐up were used if findings from CT were inconclusive.Results.The final diagnoses were as follows: seven splenic infarcts, five hemangiomas, three lacerations, two benign cysts, one lymphoma, one granuloma, one abscess, and two lesions of unknown etiology. CEUS and CT had the same specificity (77.2%). Both CEUS and CT failed to characterize nodular hypovascular lesions with a hypoenhancing pattern.Conclusions.CEUS is as effective as CT for characterizing nontraumatic focal lesions of the spleen. If CEUS findings are consistent with a benign splenic lesion, CT seems to be of limited additional value. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2011;