Is human herpesvirus 7 the causative agent of pityriasis rosea?--A critical review.

BACKGROUND

Conflicting results on the association of pityriasis rosea and human herpesvirus 7 infection have been reported by different investigators.

AIM: To review the level of evidence for such an association.

METHODS

Medline was searched with unlimited data entry and 13 reports were retrieved. The data were analyzed for a causative association according to the criteria of Fredericks and Relman, which take into consideration latent infection and the reactivation of viruses characteristic of herpesviruses, and the roles of sequence-based detection methods.

RESULTS

None of the criteria was substantiated by the findings of most investigators. Factors leading to the discrepancies of the results were discussed.

CONCLUSION

There is currently insufficient evidence that human herpesvirus 7 infection is causally related to pityriasis rosea.