OBJECTIVE: To study the presence of active human herpesvirus type-6 (HHV-6) infection indicated by the presence of HHV-6 DNA in serum (DNAaemia) in patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS) in Kuwait. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sera from 24 patients with MS (18 relapsing-remitting, six secondary progressive disease), control sera from 13 patients suffering from other neurological diseases and sera from 20 healthy volunteers were examined for the presence of HHV-6 DNA by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. RESULTS: None of the MS patients, nor patient controls were positive for HHV-6 DNAaemia while, one of the normal healthy controls was positive for HHV-6 DNAaemia. CONCLUSION: HHV-6 DNAaemia, indicating active HHV-6 infection could not be demonstrated in a sample of Kuwaiti patients suffering from active clinically definite MS. There is no evidence to incriminate this virus in the pathogenesis of MS in Kuwait.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Al-Shammari et al. (2003) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 4 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: