title: Increased detection of serum HHV-6 DNA sequences during multiple sclerosis (MS) exacerbations and correlation with parameters of MS disease progression.
abstract: In recent years, human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) has been investigated as a possible causative agent for MS. To determine if the detection of HHV-6 DNA in the serum of MS patients correlates with clinical parameters of MS disease progression, a total of 215 serum samples was obtained from 59 MS patients followed prospectively for a 5-month period. These samples were analyzed for the presence of HHV-6 DNA by nested PCR and compared in parallel to MS disease activity. HHV-6 DNA was amplified in 22% (4/18) of samples obtained during a period of clinical exacerbation. Significantly fewer (P = 0.008) sera, 5.6% (11/197), obtained from MS patients during clinical remission tested positive for the presence of HHV-6 DNA. This work demonstrates that the detection of serum HHV-6 DNA is significantly correlated with clinical exacerbations in MS. Moreover, the findings presented in this study have confirmed previous reports supporting an association between MS and HHV-6 and suggest a role for this human herpesvirus in the pathogenesis of MS.
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Rossana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Berti
authors.forename: Meghan B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: Samantha S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Soldan
authors.forename: Joan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ohayon
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Casareto
authors.forename: Henry F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: McFarland
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jacobson
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D018450:Disease Progression; D005814:Genes, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000821:virology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019349:Roseolovirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral