Dr. Joseph Brewer's HHV-6 Paradigm
"Human herpesvirus-6 was discovered in 1986. Since then, a considerable amount of research information has been published regarding this fascinating virus. The role of this relatively new member of the herpes family in human disease continues to be defined. It is now widely accepted that primary infection results in roseola (erythema subitum). The virus can also cause a mononucleosis-like syndrome in older children and adults. HHV-6 has now been associated with a variety of potentially life-threatening infectious complications in the immune compromised host. Numerous serious neurologic conditions have been described in both the normal host (children and adults), and the immune compromised host. The virus is clearly neurotropic and immunotropic. Recent evidence also suggests tropism and infection of endothelial cells.
Our group has been intensely interested in HHV-6 infection for the past two years. We have been studying a variety of disease associations, especially in the previously healthy adult who has developed new onset disease (examples: multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia). Based on the studies and observations in our own patient population, as well as an extensive review of the medical literature, it is our belief that this virus can establish a chronic active infection in certain patient populations and lead to chronic diseases via several different postulated mechanisms. We believe this represents an evolving understanding of a "New Paradigm" of human diseases related to the chronic active HHV-6 infection. In working with these concepts for over two years, it has become clear that this is a very complicated pathophysiological and clinical puzzle. Herein, we present this new paradigm and begin to "piece together" some of this intriguing puzzle. The process of "piecing together" the puzzle of newly described microbial pathogens is indeed not new to those of us who have spent our medical careers in the field of infectious diseases." http://www.plazamedicine.com/hhv6/hhv6_1.html