Epstein-Barr Virus Antibodies and Risk of Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Our results support a role of EBV in the etiology of MS.

Risk factors for multiple sclerosis and associations with anti-EBV antibody titers

“…This could explain the higher prevalence observed in our study, although it is possible that this could reflect a true difference in prevalence. Even though we found that anti-VCA seropositivity was significantly associated with having MS, the antibody titer was not significantly different between cases and controls, unlike what was previously reported [42,43]. On the other hand, the mean anti-EBNA-1 antibody titer was significantly higher in MS cases compared to controls.…”

EBV & HHV6 reactivation is infrequent and not associated with MS clinical course

“…This is interesting, as anti‐EBV‐EA‐R IgG is canonically only detectable for up to 2 months after primary infection or reactivation , although there have been longitudinal studies, one in healthy adults following infectious mononucleosis and one in persons with MS , where low/moderate levels of anti‐EBV‐EA‐R IgG were detected over 6–12 months of follow‐up. Our finding of prevalent sustained anti‐EBV‐EA‐R IgG levels is atypical in comparison with the MS literature, with others finding samples with detectable anti‐EBV‐EA IgG in just over half of participants or none at all . The question is whether these sustained anti‐EBV‐EA‐R IgG levels should be interpreted as sustained lytic activity.…”

Heterogeneity in association of remote herpesvirus infections and pediatric MS

“…This is in line with a prior report in adults26 but in contrast with two others in children 4, 27. Two small groups of controls were used in our former study which could explain differences in the findings 4.…”