Case-control study of primary human herpesvirus 6 infection in children with febrile seizures.
BACKGROUND
Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) has been demonstrated to be the causative agent in roseola infantum. It has been suggested that HHV-6 may have neurotropic properties and be involved in the pathogenesis of febrile seizures in infants. We describe a case-control study to examine the hypothesis that acute HHV-6 infection occurs more commonly in children with febrile seizures than in controls.


METHODS
Patients presenting with a first or second febrile seizure between 6 months and 2 years of age were entered in the study. Control patients did not have a seizure but had similar inclusion and exclusion criteria. Specimens were obtained for HHV-6 viral serology and polymerase chain reaction in the acute stage and approximately 2 weeks later. A diagnosis of HHV-6 infection was based on HHV-6-specific IgM and IgG serology and HHV-6 polymerase chain reaction of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and saliva.


RESULTS
Eighty-six patients (45 with febrile seizures; 41 controls) were enrolled. The HHV-6 infection status could be determined in only 68 patients (35 with febrile seizures; 33 controls). Acute HHV-6 infection was identified in 15 of 35 febrile seizure patients and in 15 of 33 controls. Evidence of past HHV-6 infection was demonstrated in 13 febrile seizure patients and in 8 controls.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of primary HHV-6 infection is similar in patients with febrile seizures and age-matched controls. HHV-6 does not seem to be a major factor in the pathogenesis of first and second febrile seizures.
Hukin
J
J
Division of Pediatric Neurology, University of British Columbia and British Columbia's Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia.
Farrell
K
K
MacWilliam
L M
LM
Colbourne
M
M
Waida
E
E
Tan
R
R
Mroz
L
L
Thomas
E
E
D000208:Acute Disease; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000821:virology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000150:complications; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000276:immunology; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D003294:Seizures, Febrile / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral; C041788:Epstein-Barr viral capsid antigen