This panel uses the measuring of antibodies against the family of Herpesviruses for the detection of chronic illnesses, including autoimmune disorders. The most notable viruses found to be involved in inflammatory, autoimmune, and neurodegenerative disorders are the family of human herpesviruses: human herpesvirus 1 (HSV-1); Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), the Varicella zoster virus (VZV); Epstein-Barr virus (EBV); cytomegalovirus (CMV); human herpes type 6 (HHV-6); and measles (rubeola).
Molecular mimicry or amino acid sequence similarities between these viruses and various human tissue antigens, including the thyroid, joints, muscles, and the brain, seem to be responsible for inducing a variety of autoimmune disorders.
Because autoantibodies are detected many years before the onset of various autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders, the measurement of IgG and IgM antibodies against viruses in the Viral Panel Comprehensive is important for finding the major triggers and the prevention of inflammatory, autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders.
For example, it is important to measure antibodies against HSV-1 and HSV-2 because there is evidence that they play a role in diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer’s disease, and encephalitis presenting with chorea. The detection of these antibodies may occur prior to the actual onset of these diseases and may thus assist practitioners in prescribing preventive treatments.
VZV is commonly associated with shingles, but it has also been linked to disease flares in patients suffering from lupus and the triggering of severe autoimmune hepatitis. The measuring of antibodies against VZV may help in identifying and preventing such autoimmune disorders.
EBV infection is strongly associated with autoimmunity and is suspected of having a role in the pathogenesis of many autoimmune diseases. It can also become latent, and its reactivation may cooperate with SARS-CoV-2 infection to result in long COVID. Similarly, HHV-6 and CMV are known for their ability to become latent and reactivate and are also associated with the induction, enhancement, and progression of autoimmune disorders, as well as having a role in long COVID.
Measles is probably one of the most well-known of viruses, but it is also important to know that immune reactions against the measles virus can result in autoimmune reactions against brain antigens, possibly resulting in brain-related autoimmune diseases such as MS and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.
The figure below shows examples of some of the autoimmune diseases associated with EBV, HHV-6 and CMV. Other herpesviruses in this panel that are not shown in the figure have also been linked with different autoimmune disorders.
This panel is beneficial for a wide variety of patients with the following:
This panel measures antibodies against seven different viruses (EBV, CMV, HSV-1, HSV-2, HHV-6, VZV, measles) that are involved in different inflammatory autoimmune diseases, chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic encephalitis, neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and neurological disorders such as Guillain-Barré syndrome and multiple sclerosis. Reactivation of these viruses is a major driver in increasing the severity of symptoms in patients with COVID-19. The test confirms immunological memory against Varicella zoster (VZV), the causative agent for shingles, and against Rubeola, the causative agent for measles.
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