Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) has been proposed as a possible agent in the development of Guillain-Barrè Syndrome (GBS) but this association is founded upon very limited observations. We analysed by nested PCR the CSF of 16 patients with GBS, to detect footprints of viral infection. All samples were negative after the first round of amplification, but 4 specimens resulted positive after nested PCR. Restriction enzyme analysis showed that all 4 positive samples harboured HHV-6 variant A sequences. The detection of HHV-6 DNA in the CSF is a strong indication that the virus is actively replicating within the CNS. The detection of active HHV-6 infection in the CNS during the clinical course of GBS suggests that not only preceding, but also concurrent infections might be associated to GBS, and that HHV-6 infection might induce significant demyelinating effects, ranging from GBS to Multiple Sclerosis.
Simultaneous Guillain-Barre' syndrome and active human herpesvirus 6 infection in the central nervous system
GALVAN, MONICA;ROTOLA, Antonella;GOVONI, Vittorio;GRANIERI, Enrico Gavino Giuseppe;CASSAI, Enzo;DI LUCA, Dario
2007
Abstract
Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) has been proposed as a possible agent in the development of Guillain-Barrè Syndrome (GBS) but this association is founded upon very limited observations. We analysed by nested PCR the CSF of 16 patients with GBS, to detect footprints of viral infection. All samples were negative after the first round of amplification, but 4 specimens resulted positive after nested PCR. Restriction enzyme analysis showed that all 4 positive samples harboured HHV-6 variant A sequences. The detection of HHV-6 DNA in the CSF is a strong indication that the virus is actively replicating within the CNS. The detection of active HHV-6 infection in the CNS during the clinical course of GBS suggests that not only preceding, but also concurrent infections might be associated to GBS, and that HHV-6 infection might induce significant demyelinating effects, ranging from GBS to Multiple Sclerosis.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
