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Evidence for human herpesvirus 6 variant A antibodies in multiple sclerosis: diagnostic and therapeutic implications

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Abstract

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) has been linked to the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). HHV-6 antibodies in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 27 patients with clinically definite MS (CDMS) were compared with age- and sex-matched controls, including various other neurological diseases and symptoms (OND). In addition, we studied a series of 19 patients with clinically or laboratory supported possible MS (CPMS). Seroprevalence to HHV-6A was 100% in patients with MS, both in CDMS and CPMS, compared to 69.2% in patients with OND (P = .001 and .007). The mean immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers were significantly higher in patients with CDMS and CPMS than in controls (P = .005 and .00002). The proportion of acute primary infections without CSF involvement was similar in all groups; however, primary infections with intrathecal HHV-6 antibody production were more frequent in MS. In CSF, HHV-6A-specific antibodies were present in three (11.5%) and four (21.1%) patients with CDMS and CPMS, compared to none with OND (P = .06 and .01, respectively). Serological suggestions to HHV-6A infection occurred more often in both CDMS and CPMS than in OND (14.8% versus 21.1% versus 3.8%). We conclude that a subpopulation of MS patients, and even a greater proportion of possible MS subjects, has serological evidence of HHV-6A infection, which might provide new markers for diagnosis and therapy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Virology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, P.O.B. 21, FIN-00014, Finland

    J. O. Virtanen, A. J. Jääskeläinen, A. Vaheri & M. Koskiniemi

  2. Department of Virology, HUSLAB Laboratory Services, Helsinki, Finland

    J. O. Virtanen, A. J. Jääskeläinen & A. Vaheri

  3. Department of Neurology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

    M. Färkkilä & J. Multanen

  4. Department of Clinical Chemistry, HUSLAB Laboratory Services, Helsinki, Finland

    L. Uotila

Authors
  1. J. O. Virtanen
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  2. M. Färkkilä
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  3. J. Multanen
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  4. L. Uotila
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  5. A. J. Jääskeläinen
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  6. A. Vaheri
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  7. M. Koskiniemi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. O. Virtanen.

Additional information

This study was partially funded by the Helsinki University Central Hospital Research Funds and supported by the Finnish Cultural Foundation.

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Virtanen, J.O., Färkkilä, M., Multanen, J. et al. Evidence for human herpesvirus 6 variant A antibodies in multiple sclerosis: diagnostic and therapeutic implications. Journal of NeuroVirology 13, 347–352 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1080/13550280701381332

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13550280701381332

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