Absence of HHV-6 and HHV-7 in cerebrospinal fluid in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
To contribute to clarifying the controversy on the association between Human Herpesviruses 6 and 7 (HHV-6, HHV-7) and multiple sclerosis (MS) studying patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) with or without evidence of disease activity (clinically or radiologically evaluated).


METHODS
In 25 RRMS patients, 7 suspected MS patients and 9 patients with other neurological diseases, the following parameters were analysed: i) antibody titers (IgM and IgG) against HHV-6 by indirect immunofluorescence both in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples; ii) PCR-detection of HHV-6 DNA and HHV-7 DNA in CSF and HHV-6 DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). MS patients in remission underwent a gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in proximity of sample collections.


RESULTS
No viral DNA was found in any CSF sample, HHV-6 DNA frequency in PBMCs of MS patients and controls was not statistically different. Antibody titers against HHV-6 were comparable to those of the general population. Some 30.4% of MS patients were seronegative to HHV6.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that there is no relationship between HHV-6 or HHV-7 and MS.
Taus
C
C
Istituto Malattie del Sistema Nervoso, Università di Ancona, Italy.
Pucci
E
E
Cartechini
E
E
Fié
A
A
Giuliani
G
G
Clementi
M
M
Menzo
S
S
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016199:Herpesvirus 7, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D004279:DNA, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M