Frequent association of multiple sclerosis with varicella and zoster

Perez-Cesari, C.; Saniger, M; Sotelo, Julio

doi:10.1111/j.1600-0404.2005.00491.x

Cited by 21 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…However, when reviewing retrospectively the clinical status of those positive cases we found that the blood samples in all them had been taken within the initial days of an acute relapse (13 out of 15, 87%); in contrast, all patients who were on remission at the time of blood sampling (n = 67) tested negative. While conducting this study we reviewed the medical records of all MS patients studied during the last 2 years, a total of 82 cases, in six of them (7%) we found a close association of a typical VZV infection, either varicella or zoster, closely related in time with the clinical debut of MS [15]. Although the association could be casual, this finding strengthened the epidemiological and laboratory evidences of a potential link between VZV and MS. A further study, which included the search for DNA from the most common human herpes viruses in a substantial number of MS patients who were followed from relapse until remission, corroborated our initial findings [16].…”

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confidence: 55%

On the viral hypothesis of multiple sclerosis: Participation of varicella-zoster virus

Sotelo

2007

Journal of the Neurological Sciences

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confidence: 55%

On the viral hypothesis of multiple sclerosis: Participation of varicella-zoster virus

Sotelo

2007

Journal of the Neurological Sciences

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“…Histograms are from a representative MS case during relapse; the arrow shows a high fluorescent intensity of lymphocytes marked with antibodies to VZV chickenpox and zoster; interestingly, it is also effective in MS, although the mechanisms for this have not been clarified [4,10,11,16,29]. Some patients develop MS soon after varicella or zoster infection [28,29]. The VZV has a distinctive ability for multiple pathogenicity related to the age of the host and to the cells infected [36]; in this way, the same virus may cause either chickenpox or herpes zoster or, we speculate, MS.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Varicella-zoster virus at relapses of multiple sclerosis

2007

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The possible participation of different herpes viruses was studied during exacerbations of multiple sclerosis (MS). We searched for the presence of DNA from the following herpes viruses: varicella zoster virus (VZV), herpes-simplex viruses 1 and 2; Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes-virus-6 (HHV6) in mononuclear cells from patients with MS during relapse (n = 40), MS during remission (n = 131) and controls (n = 125). Additionally, immune cells containing viral antigens were quantified by flow cytometry, and VZV load was determined by real time PCR in 2 MS patients at various times during relapse and remission. DNA from VZV was found in 95% of MS patients during relapse and in 17% during remission; all controls were negative; by contrast, DNA from HHV6 was found in 24% of MS patients during relapse and in 2% during remission; DNA from herpes simplex viruses was not found in any subject; and DNA from EBV was found in a similar percentage of subjects from all groups. Sequential quantification of VZV-load showed a curve that increased during relapse and disappeared at remission. Also, VZV antigens were found inside a large number of immune cells from MS patients during relapse as compared with MS patients on remission and controls. In the typical forms of VZV infection, varicella and herpes-zoster, DNA from VZV is found in mononuclear cells exclusively during brief periods at the beginning of the active infection, but not during latency; thus, the conspicuous presence of VZV during relapses of MS may indicate a period of active infection and suggests the participation of VZV in the pathogenesis of MS.

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“…Coincidentally, the epidemiology of MS is similar to that of varicella, high in the northern hemisphere sharply decreasing towards tropical areas [30]. Our initial study demonstrated that the antecedent of varicella in MS patients was far more frequent than that in matched controls and in the general population [25, 31]; moreover, the mean age of infection in MS patients (8 years of age) was significantly older than in controls (5 years of age). The above unexpected findings prompted us to study the possible presence of VZV in MS patients: the initial study searched for DNA from VZV in peripheral mononuclear blood cells (PBMC) from 82 MS patients [32]; results showed that only 13 (16%) were positive by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to one or various genes specific for VZV.…”

Section: Varicella Zoster Virus and Multiple Sclerosismentioning

confidence: 98%

Varicella Zoster Virus and Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Sotelo

Corona

2011

Multiple Sclerosis International

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Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated disorder; however, little is known about the triggering factors of the abnormal immune response. Different viruses from the herpes family have been mentioned as potential participants. Here, we review the evidences that support the association of varicella zoster virus (VZV) with MS. Epidemiological studies from geographical areas, where incidence of MS has increased in recent decades, pointed out a high frequency of varicella and zoster in the clinical antecedents of MS patients, and also laboratory investigations have found large quantities of DNA from VZV in leucocytes and cerebrospinal fluid of MS patients restricted to the ephemeral period of MS relapse, followed by disappearance of the virus during remission. The above observations and the peculiar features of VZV, mainly characterized by its neurotropism and long periods of latency followed by viral reactivation, support the idea on the participation of VZV in the etiology of MS. However, as with reports from studies with other viruses, particularly Epstein Barr virus, conflicting results on confirmatory studies about the presence of viral gene products in brain tissue indicate the need for further research on the potential participation of VZV in the etiology of MS.

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Frequent association of multiple sclerosis with varicella and zoster

Abstract: The association of these pathologies is higher than expected and suggests a possible etiological relationship of the varicella zoster virus with MS.

Cited by 21 publications

References 14 publications

On the viral hypothesis of multiple sclerosis: Participation of varicella-zoster virus

On the viral hypothesis of multiple sclerosis: Participation of varicella-zoster virus

Varicella-zoster virus at relapses of multiple sclerosis

Varicella Zoster Virus and Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

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