title: Human herpesvirus-6 viral load and antibody titer in serum samples of patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite the number of cases with definite diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) being on increase, the role of human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) infection as a trigger for MS disease still is deliberated. Based on antibody detection and quantitative HHV-6 polymerase chain reaction assay, this study was achieved to find out the possible association between infection with HHV-6 and clinical progression of MS disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 108 serum samples were obtained from 30 MS patients followed prospectively for a 6-month period. These samples were analyzed for the presence of HHV-6 DNA by nested polymerase chain reaction enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and for anti-HHV-6 IgG titer. Activation of the disease was determined by either magnetic resonance imaging or by clinical status of the patients. Control groups were also included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average antibody index for the MS patients in the first sample collection was higher than both control groups (p = 0.001). HHV-6 DNA was detected in the serum samples of 10 of 30 MS patients. The mean HHV-6 viral load in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) with and without relapse was 973 and 714, respectively. Seven patients showed an exacerbation during the study period. Of those, four patients had HHV-6 DNA in their collected samples. The prevalence of HHV-6 DNA was significantly higher in patients with MS as compared with control groups (p = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that HHV-6 is implicated somehow in MS disease. Over time, rising HHV-6 IgG antibody titers together with an exacerbation and detection of HHV-6 DNA in serum samples of some MS patients suggests possible association between the reactivation of the virus and disease progression.
authors.affiliation: Medical Technology Research Center, Faculty of Para-Clinical Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Behbahani_2000@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Behzad-Behbahani
authors.forename: Mohammad Hadi
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Mikaeili
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Entezam
authors.forename: Anahita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mojiri
authors.forename: Gholamreza Yousefi
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Pour
authors.forename: Mohammad Mehdi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Arasteh
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahsaz
authors.forename: Mehrzad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banihashemi
authors.forename: Baharak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Khadang
authors.forename: Afsaneh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moaddeb
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nematollahi
authors.forename: Negar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Azarpira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019349:Roseolovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G