title: Dual antibody rises to cytomegalovirus and human herpesvirus type 6: frequency of occurrence in CMV infections and evidence for genuine reactivity to both viruses.
abstract: The frequency of high (greater than 256) IgG anti-human herpesvirus type 6 (HHV-6) titers in sera known to be positive for IgM anti-cytomegalovirus (CMV) or IgM anti-Epstein Barr virus (EBV) was significantly greater than in sera from healthy controls or from a group of ill patients who were CMV and EBV IgM-negative (15/25 and 17/25 vs. 1/25 and 2/25, respectively, P less than .001). There was serologic evidence of simultaneous HHV-6 infection or reactivation (a rise in IgG anti-HHV-6 titer or the presence of IgM anti-HHV-6) in sera from 14 of 17 primary CMV infections. In 5 of the 10 patients with concurrent rises in IgG titers to both viruses, the rise in IgG anti-HHV-6 preceded that of IgG anti-CMV. Complete removal of IgG anti-CMV reactivity from 5 sera from patients who had a primary CMV infection with a rise in IgG anti-HHV-6 titer had no effect on the IgG anti-HHV-6 titer of those sera, demonstrating that the rise in HHV-6 IgG titer was not a consequence of anti-CMV antibodies cross-reacting in the HHV-6 IgG assay.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Irving
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Ratnamohan
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Hueston
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Cunningham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M