EVIDENCE OF PRESENCE OF POLIOVIRUS GENOMIC SEQUENCES IN CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID FROM PATIENTS WITH POSTPOLIO SYNDROME

The postpolio syndrome (PPS) is characterized by new neuromuscular sym ptoms occurring 30 to 40 years after the acute episode of poliomyeliti s paralysis. The presence of the poliovirus RNA genome in the cerebros pinal fluid from 10 patients with PPS and from 23 control patients was sought by using reverse transcription and a PCR specific for poliovir uses and/or other enteroviruses. Poliovirus-specific genomic sequences in the 5' untranslated region and in the capsid region (VP1) were det ected by reverse transcription PCR in 5 of 10 patients with PPS but in none of the control patients. Sequencing confirmed the presence of mu tated poliovirus sequences. This finding suggests persistent viral inf ection in the central nervous system related to the presence of poliov irus genomes.