Association of human herpesvirus 6 and human herpesvirus 7 with demyelinating diseases of the nervous system

J Neurovirol. 2001 Dec;7(6):564-9. doi: 10.1080/135502801753248150.

Abstract

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells and plasma of 113 patients with neurological disorders and 150 blood donors were analyzed for HHV-6 and HHV-7 sequences by PCR. The prevalence of HHV-6 was significantly higher in patients with multiple sclerosis (P < 0.01) than in cases of nondemyelinating diseases of the central and demyelinating diseases of the peripheral nervous systems and blood donors. HHV-6 viremia was found only in patients with multiple sclerosis, predominantly in the active phase of the disease. A significantly higher frequency of HHV-7 reactivation in patients with demyelinating diseases of the peripheral nervous system suggests also its association with demyelinating processes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Brain Diseases / virology
  • DNA, Viral / analysis
  • Female
  • Herpesvirus 6, Human / genetics
  • Herpesvirus 6, Human / isolation & purification*
  • Herpesvirus 7, Human / genetics
  • Herpesvirus 7, Human / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis / epidemiology*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / virology*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Prevalence
  • Roseolovirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Viremia / pathology

Substances

  • DNA, Viral