Serological examination of human herpesvirus 6 and 7 in patients with coronary artery Disease

Abstract

Fifty-three (96%) of 55 patients with coronary artery stenosis were positive for serum anti-HHV-6 IgG, and 50 (91%) of these patients had anti-HHV-7 IgG. The number of cases sero-positive for HHV-6 and -7 in the 54 age matched control volunteers was 52 (96%) and 53 (98%), respectively. No statistical difference in the sero-prevalence of the viruses existed between the patients and the control group. The mean geometric titer (log10) of anti-HHV-6 IgG in both the patients and controls were the same (1.4) (P = 0.845), whereas anti-HHV-7 titers were 1.4 and 1.5, respectively (P = 0.161). Ten (18%) of the 55 patients had anti-HHV-6 IgM; eight (15%) of the 54 control volunteers were also positive (P = 0.636). Three (5%) of the 55 patients had anti-HHV-7 IgM, whereas 3 (6%) of the 54 control volunteers had detectable serum antibody (P = 0.691). Forty-seven of the 55 patients were examined by follow-up angiographic evaluation to clarify the association between viral infection and restenosis following balloon angioplasty. Fifteen of these patients developed restenosis, as determined by angiography. The mean geometric titer (log10) of anti-HHV-6 IgG were 1.3 and 1.4 in patients with restenosis and those without restenosis, respectively (P = 0.724). The mean geometric titer (log10) of anti-HHV-7 IgG in patients with restenosis was not significantly higher (1.5) than in patients without restenosis (1.3) (P = 0.099). Three (20%) of the 15 patients affected by restenosis had anti-HHV-6 IgM; five (16%) of the 32 control patients also had the antibody (P = 0.965). One (7%) of the 15 patients with restenosis and 2 (6%) of the 32 patients without restenosis had anti-HHV-7 IgM (P = 0.558). The present study demonstrates that HHV-6 and -7 reactivation is not associated with the establishment of coronary artery stenosis and restenosis following balloon angioplasty.

Herpes virus seroepidemiology in the adult Swedish population

“…Studies from USA report similar figures for VZV (99%) [29]. Even HHV6 is reported to be prevalent almost ubiquitously in the adult population [30–33]. We noted a lower prevalence for anti-HHV6 antibodies with increasing age, in line with earlier reports [34, 35].…”

Update on Human Herpesvirus 6 Biology, Clinical Features, and Therapy

“…Nevertheless, the seropositivity in the adult population is now estimated to be Ͼ95% for either or both HHV-6 variants in developed countries, the antibody titers showing a decline with advancing age (27,175,322,354). HHV-6 is widespread throughout the world, with geographic differences in HHV-6 prevalence varying between 70 and 100% (36,69,240,306,409,432); given the above-mentioned limitations, these differences may be insignificant.…”

Multiplex-PCR and oligonucleotide microarray for detection of eight different herpesviruses from clinical specimens

“…Jääskeläinen). lation, nucleic acid detection and a variety of serological methods are currently used to detect herpesvirus infections (Chiu et al, 1998;Espy et al, 2000;Ihira et al, 2002;Pitkäranta et al, 2000;Read et al, 2001). Multiplex-PCR assays have been developed to meet the demand for fast detection of herpesviruses (Aberle and Puchhammer-Stockl, 2002;Druce et al, 2002;Hudnall et al, 2004;Read and Kurtz, 1999).…”