title: Prevalence of HHV-6 and HHV-8 antibodies in patients with autism spectrum disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The etiology of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) still eludes investigators. Several viral infections have been associated with ASD etiopathogenesis but few studies have ever focused on the role of HHV-6 and HHV-8, two members of the herpesviridae family. The aim of the present study was to evaluate seropositivity rate and levels of antibodies to HHV6 and HHV-8 in children with ASD compared to controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured and compared seropositivity rate and levels of antibodies to HHV-6 and HHV-8 in 30 children with ASD (14 with autistic disorder and 16 with non-autistic disorder ASD) and in 28 healthy controls of the same age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seropositivity rate and levels of the two antibodies were similar in cases and controls. Seropositivity rate and levels of antibodies were not correlated with disease severity in children with ASD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Levels and seropositivity rate of antibodies to HHV-6 and HHV-8 do not differ between children with ASD and controls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery - Section of Infectious Diseases, Federico II University of Naples, via S. Pansini, 5, I-80131 Naples, Italy. ivan.gentile@unina.it.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zappulo
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Coppola
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bonavolta
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Portella
authors.forename: Daniela Spalletti
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Cernia
authors.forename: Maria Pia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Riccio
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Settimi
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pascotto
authors.forename: Guglielmo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Borgia
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bravaccio
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral
keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; HHV-6; HHV-8