title: Human herpesvirus 6 and 7 DNA in peripheral blood leucocytes and plasma in patients with pityriasis rosea by polymerase chain reaction: a prospective case control study.
abstract: An association between pityriasis rosea and human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) has been reported but remains controversial. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between HHV-6 and HHV-7 with pityriasis rosea. Fifteen patients aged 6-54 years with a diagnosis of pityriasis rosea and 15 age-matched controls were recruited. None of the patients had HHV-6 or HHV-7 DNA detected by polymerase chain reaction in the acute or convalescent plasma specimen. In the acute peripheral blood leucocytes specimen, 3 patients and one control had RHV-6 DNA detected (p=0.299; NS), while 7 patients and 5 controls had HHV-7 DNA (p=0.355; NS). Antibody to HHV-6 was detected in the acute specimen of 13 patients and 13 controls, while antibody to HHV-7 was found in all 15 of patients and controls. We thus found no evidence of recent HHV-6 or HHV-7 infection in patients with a diagnosis of pityriasis rosea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, China. achuh@iohk.com
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Chuh
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Peiris
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016199:Herpesvirus 7, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017515:Pityriasis Rosea / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019349:Roseolovirus Infections / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral