HTLV antibodies in Italian patients with multiple sclerosis.
Several observations indicate that a retrovirus might be involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). We report that the sera from 40 Italian MS patients did not contain antibodies to the human T-lymphotropic type I (HTLV-I) and type III viruses (HTLV-III) at levels detectable by commercial ELISA kits. Nevertheless, it cannot be ruled out that a distinct retrovirus is the etiologic factor of MS.
Varmier
O
O
Istituto Microbiologia-Università Genova.
Melioli
G
G
Lillo
F
F
Schito
G
G
Repetto
C
C
Ravegnani
M
M
Battaglia
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015483:HIV Antibodies