Possible Relation of Roseolovirus Infection with Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic widespread pain disorder that impacts 0.5%-7% of the general population worldwide. The aetiology and pathogenesis of the disease are still unknown. Human herpesvirus-6 and-7 belong to the family Herpesviridae, subfamily Betaherpesvirinae, and genus Roseolovirus and are immunomodulating viruses potentially pathogenic to the nervous system. Presence of anti-HHV-6 and-HHV-7 antibodies and viral genomic sequences, viral loads, HHV-6 variant-specificity, and TNF-α level were studied in 41 FM patients and 50 healthy individuals using polymerase chain reactions, restriction endonuclease analysis and ELISA. There was no difference in the presence of anti-HHV-6 and anti-HHV-7 IgG class antibodies between FM patients and control group individuals. Viral sequences were found in 80.5% of FM patients and in 62.0% of controls. Significantly higher rate of concurrent HHV-6 and HHV-7 infection and higher viral loads in peripheral blood were detected in FM patients compared to the control group individuals. Plasma viremia was detected only in FM patients. Significantly higher TNF-α levels were detected in virus positive FM patients. From all positive cases only in two FM patients HHV-6A was revealed. Significantly higher detection frequency of concurrent HHV-6 and HHV-7 infection, simultaneous HHV-6 and HHV-7 activation, higher viral loads and TNF-α expression levels in primary FM patients than in control group individuals indicate the potential involvement of Roseoloviruses in development of this disorder.