Symptomatic Epstein-Barr virus infection and multiple sclerosis.
In a case-control study of 214 patients with multiple sclerosis, recall of infectious mononucleosis in subjects seropositive for Epstein-Barr viral capsid antigen was associated with a relative risk of 2.9 (95% CI 1.1 to 7.2). Those who reported having infectious mononucleosis before the age of 18 years had a relative risk of multiple sclerosis of 7.9 (95% CI 1.7 to 37.9). The pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis may involve an age-dependent host response to Epstein-Barr virus infection.
MRC Environmental Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, UK.
C N
CN
Martyn
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M
Cruddas
D A
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Compston
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015802:HLA-DR2 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D008131:London; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D012044:Regression Analysis
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015802:HLA-DR2 Antigen