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Abstract:

Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) is the collective name for HHV-6A and HHV-6B, two closely related betaherpesviruses that have a combined seroprevalence of over 90% in adults worldwide. An increased awareness of diseases associated with HHV-6 acute infection (AI) and reactivation in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients has resulted in growing interest in the evaluation of the best treatment options available for the clinical management of HHV-6 disease; however, no compound has yet been approved for the specific treatment of HHV-6 infection. Thus, clinicians most often utilize the anti-cytomegalovirus (CMV) agents ganciclovir, cidofovir, and foscarnet for the treatment of HHV-6 AI and reactivation. This chapter reviews the reported in vitro efficacies of several anti-HHV-6 compounds and discusses current and future approaches to the clinical management of HHV-6 AI.