Chronic myelopathy associated with human herpesvirus-6.
Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) is implicated in a variety of neurologic diseases. We report a previously healthy elderly woman with progressive spastic paraparesis. At autopsy the spinal cord showed widespread demyelination, axonal loss, and chronic inflammation. HHV-6 DNA was amplified, using polymerase chain reaction, from spinal cord tissue, and glial cells were immunoreactive with an HHV-6 antibody. These findings suggest that HHV-6 may cause myelopathy.
Mackenzie
I R
IR
Department of Pathology (Neuropathology), University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
Carrigan
D R
DR
Wiley
C A
CA
D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000821:virology*; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000821:virology*
D004279:DNA, Viral