Human herpesvirus-6 and the etiology of multiple sclerosis: A literature review

Abstract

Background: There is no consensus in the literature on the role of human herpes virus-6 (HHV-6) in multiple sclerosis (MS) onset or progression. Objective: We evaluated a possible role for HHV-6 in MS onset and progression. Methods: We conducted a literature search of PubMed and Google scholar with the following search terms: ("multiple sclerosis" OR "MS") and ("Human Herpes Virus-6" OR "HHV-6"). Results: A total 21 publications were retrieved, of which 19 case-control studies were included. A further 25 articles were retrieved for background information. Conclusion: There was insufficient evidence to support a role of HHV-6 in MS onset and progression.