Positive Correlation of Human Herpes Virus 6 Immunoglobulin G and Immunoglobulin M Antibodies and Multiple Sclerosis disease in Iraqi patients

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the commonest cause of neurological impairment among young adults. MS is multifactorial, heterogeneous, autoimmune disease that is caused by complex environment–interactions. purpose: is to study the seroprevalence of human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6 )in MS Iraqi patients. Methods: a case-control study includes 100 subjects: 50 patients previously diagnosed as MS or newly diagnosed without treatment and 50 healthy volunteers, we examined the presence of anti-HHV-6 IgM and anti-HHV-6 IgG antibodies by using ELISA technique Results: When comparing the participants with MS group to the control group, there was a significant rise in the level of HHV-6 IgM in patients 31.91 ng/L when compare to control group 12.62ng/L, respectively (p < 0.001). Also, the comparison of HHV-6 IgG level of MS group to control group revealed significantly rise in the level of HHV-6 IgG, 19.78 ng/L versus 9.5 ng/L, respectively (p < 0.001). there was no correlation between HHV-6 antibodies and age, sex, duration of disease and EDSS. Implications: MS patients have high level of seroprevalence of HHV-6 antibodies compare to control which mean positive correlation between MS disease and HHV-6 infection. Controversially, HHV-6 infection has no role in MS severity. CONCLUSION: MS patients have high level of seroprevalence of HHV-6 antibodies compare to control which mean positive correlation between MS disease and HHV-6 infection. Controversially, HHV-6 infection has no role in MS severity.