Search for human herpesvirus 6, human cytomegalovirus and varicella zoster virus DNA in recurrent aphthous stomatitis tissue.

In the present study, the involvement of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and varicella zoster virus (VZV) in the aetiology of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) was investigated using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Biopsies from 21 RAS patients were analysed, and 20 oral lichen planus (OLP) and 13 normal biopsies were tested as controls. HHV-6-DNA was detected in six of the RAS samples whereas VZV-DNA and HCMV-DNA were not detected in any RAS samples. In the OLP samples, four biopsies were positive for HHV-6-DNA and two were positive for HCMV-DNA. One sample from this group was positive for both HHV-6-DNA and HCMV-DNA. VZV-DNA was not found in any RAS or OLP biopsies. No viral DNA was present in any normal control biopsies. These results do not support an aetiological role for HCMV and VZV in RAS, although the possible involvement of HHV-6 cannot be excluded.