title: Epstein-Barr virus and human herpesvirus type 6 infection in patients with psoriasis.
abstract: The association of psoriasis with latent human herpesvirus infection has not been well described. To better understand the relationship between severe psoriasis and its treatment with latent human herpesvirus infection, we performed a cross-sectional study to determine if patients with severe psoriasis and psoriasis patients treated with immunosuppressive therapies have higher rates of Epstein-Barr virus and human herpesvirus 6 replication compared to healthy controls. The prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus and human herpesvirus 6 replication was measured in white blood cells by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. We found no evidence of active viral replication in white blood cells of healthy controls (0/10; 95% confidence interval 0-0.26), patients with severe psoriasis (0/25; 95% confidence interval 0-0.11) or severe psoriasis patients on immunosuppressive treatment (0/26; 95% confidence interval 0-0.11). The results of this study suggest that neither severe psoriasis alone, nor in combination with immunosuppressive therapy, is associated with an increase in Epstein-Barr virus or human herpesvirus 6 replication in white blood cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania, 3600 Spruce Street, 2 Maloney Building, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Andrea L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Neimann
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Hodinka
authors.forename: Yagnya B
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elkan
authors.forename: Abby S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Van Voorhees
authors.forename: Joel M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gelfand
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000502:physiology; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D019349:Roseolovirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009696:Nucleic Acids