title: A potential role for human herpesvirus type 6 in nervous system disease.
abstract: Human herpesvirus type 6 (HHV-6) is a new representative of the herpesvirus family which was associated with a spectrum of diseases, including myalgic encephalitis, meningitis and the chronic fatigue syndrome. We set out to study the potential role of HHV-6 in multiple sclerosis (MS) (n = 21), facial palsy (FP) (n = 19) and Guillain-Barré-syndrome (GBS) (n = 7). Results were compared with a control group (CG) (n = 16). We analyzed paired samples of serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of HHV-6 DNA. The studies were complemented by ELISA determination of serum antibodies against HHV-6. In the MS group we detected HHV-6 DNA in the CSF from three of 21 (14.3%) patients but not in the corresponding serum samples. In FP, GBS and controls CSF and serum PCRs were negative in all cases. HHV-6 serum antibody titers were significantly higher in MS compared with FP, GBS and controls. These findings suggest that HHV-6 may play a role in MS.
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinikum Rudolf Virchow, Innere Medizin und Poliklinik mit Schwerpunkt Hämatologie und Onkologie, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wilborn
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Brinkmann
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jendroska
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oettle
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Siegert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D002648:Child; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000209:etiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral