Detection of serum antibodies against cytomegalovirus, varicella zoster virus and human herpesvirus 6 in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis.

There has recently been renewed interest in the possible role of viruses in recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). In this study, sera from 22 patients with RAS, 24 patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) and 15 healthy controls were screened for IgG and IgM class antibodies to human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), varicella zoster virus (VZV) and human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6). Commercially available ELISA and immunofluorescence kits were employed. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of IgG antibodies to HCMV, VZV or HHV-6 among the three patient groups. Similarly, there were no significant differences between the prevalence of HCMV and VZV IgM antibodies among RAS patients and controls. However, specific HHV-6 IgM was detected in 21 (95%) of the RAS patients and 17 (71%) of the lichen planus patients compared with 8 (53%) of the healthy controls. This difference between RAS patients and controls was statistically significant (P<0.01). These results do not support an aetiological role for HCMV or VZV in RAS but suggest possible involvement of HHV-6.