title: The seroepidemiology of human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) from a case-control study of leukaemia and lymphoma.
abstract: Sera from an epidemiological case-control study of leukaemias and lymphomas conducted between 1980 and 1986 were examined for reactivity to human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) by an indirect immunofluorescence assay. Statistical analyses of the data revealed higher HHV-6 seroprevalence and antibody titres in the cases, particularly evident in the disease subtypes acute myeloid leukaemia, Hodgkin's disease (HD), and low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Within the control group alone, HHV-6 seroprevalence was placed at 55% at a serum dilution of 1:40. The controls also displayed higher seropositivity in females as compared with males. Further analyses suggest an association of increased HHV-6 seropositivity and geometric mean titre ratio with HD among young adults lacking social contact in the family group. This finding might indicate late exposure to HHV-6 in such persons and could possibly signify late exposure to a number of viruses, including those hypothesized as playing a role in the aetiology of HD. Previous reports have nominated Epstein-Barr virus as a possible candidate. Our results suggest that HHV-6 should be included in further investigations of the aetiology of HD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, Veterinary School, University of Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: McKinney
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Jarrett
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Cartwright
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Onions
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral