title: Multiple sclerosis, retroviruses, and PCR. The HTLV-MS Working Group.
abstract: Previously reported serologic and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based findings have suggested an association between the human retrovirus, HTLV-I, and multiple sclerosis (MS). Due to the inherent ability of PCR to produce false-positive results, we developed a set of physical and procedural safeguards to minimize the possibility of molecular carryover. These were applied as part of a blinded, large-scale, multipopulation, multiplex PCR-based study designed to examine this issue of association. Our results do not support the hypothesis that HTLV-I, which plays a role in the pathogenesis of an encephalomyeloneuropathy, HTLV-II, or closely related agents are associated with MS. A concomitant review of the current literature supports this view.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, SUNY-HSC, Syracuse.
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Ehrlich
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Glaser
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bryz-Gornia
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maese
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Waldmann
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Poiesz
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Greenberg
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000382:microbiology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000235:genetics; D015367:Human T-lymphotropic virus 2 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012192:Retroviridae Infections
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies