HHV-6 DNAaemia in patients with multiple sclerosis in Kuwait.

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.