Human herpesvirus 6B infection in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy:a meta-analysis

Background Whether human herpesvirus 6B(HHV-6B)can affect mesial temporal lobe epilepsy(MTLE)remains controversial.The present meta-analysis was aimed to evaluate whether HHV-6B is significantly associated with MTLE.Methods Six studies were included in this meta-analysis,comprising 183 MTLE patients and 75 controls.In these studies,HHV-6B infection in astrocytes and brain samples of MTLE patients and controls was investigated by polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence.Results The frequency of HHV-6B infection detection is significantly higher in the MTLE group than in the control group(OR=9.42,95%CI:3.66–24.25),(P<0.00001).Although febrile convulsion is strongly associated with MTLE,the formation of febrile convulsion leading to MTLE is not associated with HHV-6B infection(OR=2.68,95%CI:0.93–7.73),(P=0.07).Moreover,the HHV-6B-specific antigen is co-localized to cells positive for GFAP that morphologically resemble astrocytes.HHV-6B mainly infects astrocytes,oligodendrocytes and microglia,and could damage the vascular endothelial cells of the central nervous system.Conclusions There is an association between HHV-6B infection and MTLE.Future large-scale,multi-center,controlled,prospective studies are required to confirm these findings.In addition,the exact mechanism underlying the effects of HHV-6B infection on MTLE needs to be further investigated.