Herpes Virus-6 and Epilepsy

Objective: We would like to demonstrate with this study that the human herpesvirus-6 plays a role in the development of mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) resulting in epilepsy. We would also like to examine what influence the virus has on the neurotransmitters glutamate and GABA, since we believe that an imbalance of the major excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters plays an important role in epilepsy. Study population: The study population will consist of adult patients with epilepsy and MTS and adult patients with epilepsy and no MTS as confirmed on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging scan of the brain. We will compare findings in these two groups to those in healthy adult volunteers. Design: This is a natural history study in which we will demonstrate the presence or absence of human herpesvirus-6 in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtained from each of three adult study groups: patients with epilepsy and MTS, patients with epilepsy and no MTS, and normal controls. We will measure in all three groups the concentration of GABA and glutamate in CSF. In all three groups we will perform proton MR spectroscopy to non-invasively measure these metabolites in the brain. Outcome measures: The three subject groups will be compared in terms of the presence or absence of the human herpesvirus-6 in the serum and CSF and in terms of the levels of glutamate and GABA as measured in the CSF and by magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the hippocampus and temporal lobe.