Increased risk of multiple sclerosis after late Epstein-Barr virus infection: a historical prospective study.
An association between infectious mononucleosis (IM) and MS has been proposed. In a historical prospective study we used records from the Danish State Serum Institute on heterophile antibody (HA) tests for IM performed in all Danish patients over a number of years. Included in the analysis were 6853 HA-positive persons analyzed from 1968 to 1978 (except 1975) and 12,886 HA-negative per sons analyzed in the years 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1978. A search for these persons in the central nationwide Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry (DMSR) was performed. Among the HA-positive persons 16 cases of MS which met the diagnostic criteria were found with onset of MS after the year of the HA test and before follow-up on 1 January 1991. The expected number for a Danish population, matched by sex, age and year at start of observation, was 5.70 (P < 0.05), the risk ratio being 2.81. No patient had developed MS before contracting IM. Among the HA-negative persons 12 were registered with onset of MS after the year of the HA test and before follow-up, the expected number being 10.47 (P > > 0.05). Although Epstein-Barr virus is not suggested in itself to be the cause of MS, we propose that it is a co-factor in the pathogenesis of this disease.
Haahr
S
S
Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Aarhus, Denmark.
Koch-Henriksen
N
N
Møller-Larsen
A
A
Eriksen
L S
LS
Andersen
H M
HM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D000818:Animals; D000910:Antibodies, Heterophile / Q000032:analysis; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
D000910:Antibodies, Heterophile