ABSTRACT
AIM: The pathogenic role of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) 1 and 2 in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) still remains obscure. The aim of our study was the assessment of HSV1 and 2 DNA prevalence in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of MS patients compared to patients with other neurological disorders (OND). MATERIALS AND METHODS: HSV1 and HSV2 DNA detection in the CSF of patients was performed by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: The genome of HSV1 was present in the CSF of 4.7% of MS patients (4 out of 85), while HSV2 was not detected in any patient. In the sub-group of OND patients, HSV1 was detected in 7.9% of patients (3 out of 38) and HSV2 was detected in 5.3% of patients (2 out of 38). CONCLUSION: Our data are in accordance with a limited number of previous reports, supporting a prevalence of HSV1 genome in less than 5% of MS patients.
