The significance of determination of human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) antibody during pregnancy
Kakimoto, K.; Ando, Y.; Moriyama, I.; Ichijo, M.
Nihon Sanka Fujinka Gakkai Zasshi 44(12): 1571-1577
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-9165 PMID: 1336531 Document Number: 403664
HHV-6 which was detected in peripheral blood lymphocytes of lymphocytic patients is now said to be an agent causing exanthema subitum. We investigated the titer of HHV-6 antibody in 100 primigravida and 30 patients with spontaneous abortion by means of the indirect immunofluorescence method (IF method). The positive incidence in which the titer of HHV-6 antibody was more than 10 times in 100 primigravida was 82%. That of HHV-6 IgM antibody was 3% in those who had no complication during pregnancy. This supposes that there may be some women who were infected or were reactivated while they were pregnant. The positive incidence in 30 spontaneous abortion patients was 90%. 3 of them had IgM antibody to HHV-6, and HHV-6 antigen was detected on the epitherium of the chorionic villi by the IF method with HHV-6 monoclonal antibody in two of them. This suggests that the infection or reactivation of HHV-6 may be one of the causes of spontaneous abortions.