HUMAN-HERPESVIRUS-6 POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION FINDINGS IN HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS ASSOCIATED NEUROLOGICAL DISEASE AND MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS

A role for human herpesvirus 6 (HHV6) in the neurological complication s associated with infection by human immunodeficiency virus (neuro-AID S) and during multiple sclerosis (MS) is not known. For the present st udy, an improved PCR and immunofluorescence serology method were appli ed to sera and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 27 neuro-AIDS, 36 MS and 24 noninflammatory control patients. HHV6 DNA was present in 30-40% o f the cellular CSF from all groups. In the acellular CSF, HHV6 could b e detected in four of 36 MS, 2 of 27 neuro-AIDS and none of the contro l patients. HHV6 IgG was present in one of 27 neuro-AIDS, and one of 3 6 MS patients. HHV6 IgG was present in all patients. There was no corr elation between clinical features and HHV6 PCR findings or HHV6 antibo dies. The significance of the present documentation of HHV6 DNA in the acellular CSF from a minority of MS and neuro-AIDS patients remains t o be determined.