Altered Immune Response to Epstein-Barr Precedes Onset of Multiple = Sclerosis

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Altered Immune Response to Epstein-Barr Precedes Onset of Multiple =

Sclerosis

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Jul 02 - The immune response to Epstein-Barr =

virus is altered in individuals who will eventually develop multiple =

sclerosis, Swedish investigators report.

In a multicenter study in northern Sweden, the researchers prospectively =

collected serum samples from 73 patients with multiple sclerosis. In =

addition, the team retrospectively analyzed sera from 161 patients that =

had been stored in serum bank registers.

The investigators analyzed immunoglobulin G responses to Epstein-Barr =

virus, human herpesvirus-6, herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster =

virus, and measles in blood from patients as well as from matched =

controls.

Led by Dr. Sungstrom of Norrlands University in Umea, Sweden, the =

investigators report in the June issue of Neurology that all patients =

had evidence of previous Epstein-Barr virus infection.

In the prospectively analyzed serum samples, the authors found that high =

activity to the Epstein-Barr virus EBNA-1 antigen and viral capsid =

antigen (VCA), as well as high activity to human herpesvirus-6, was =

significantly associated with an increased risk for the development of =

multiple sclerosis, although the significance was borderline for human =

herpesvirus-6.

The researchers point out that the " discrepancy between activities to =

EBNA-1 and VCA was striking " in samples collected within 5 years of the =

onset of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. During this interval, =

" high activity to EBNA significantly increased, and high VCA activity =

significantly decreased the risk for multiple sclerosis, " they say.

This discrepancy was " not obvious from...previous prospective =

Epstein-Barr virus studies, " the researchers added.

" Our findings support the view that past Epstein-Barr virus infection is =

a prerequisite for the acquisition of multiple sclerosis, " Dr. Sungstrom =

and colleagues write.

They conclude, " Individuals who will develop multiple sclerosis exhibit =

an altered immune response against the Epstein-Barr virus characterized =

by a high immunoglobulin G activity to EBNA-1 in the absence of high =

activity to VCA, this being most pronounced in the 5-year period =

preceding multiple sclerosis onset. "

Neurology 2004;62:2277-2282.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/482463?src=3Dmp

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