A pilot study on the antibodies to HHV-6 variants and HHV-7 in CSF of MS patients

In the possible role for human herpesviruses (HHV) in the pathogenesis of m ultiple sclerosis (MS) neither clear distinction between the two variants o f HHV-6, nor the involvement of HHV-7 have been described. Therefore, we qu antitated HHV-6 variant specific and HHV-7 reacting antibodies in the CSF o f 13 patients with MS or other neurological disorders by ELISA. Predominanc e in the positivity of IgG (67%) and IgM (44%) to HHV-6B over that of IgG ( 44%) with no detectable IgM to HHV-6A, and no antibodies to HHV-7 were foun d in the CSF of MS patients. None of these antibodies were found in the CSF of controls. This suggests that, intrathecal chronic active or primary HHV -6B infection might contribute to MS progression, while the local effects o f HHV-6A and HHV-7 seem to be less important.