Is there any relationship between streptococcal infection and multiple sclerosis?
BACKGROUND
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated inflammatory demyelinating disease of uncertain etiology. Although the mechanisms of inducting autoimmunity by some of the infectious agents have been investigated, there is not yet enough research on streptococcal infections.


METHODS
To understand the effect of past group A streptococcal infection on MS, antistreptolysin O (ASO) and antideoxyribonuclease B (ADNase B) were measured in 21 patients with relapsing-remitting MS and 21 healthy blood donors by nephelometric assay.


RESULTS
ADNase B levels in the patients with MS were found to be significantly higher than in the controls (p<0.001); however, ASO levels were similar in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that a relationship between multiple sclerosis and streptococcal infections may exist, but to acquire a better understanding of the role of group A streptococci in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis, more studies with animal models are necessary.
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Maltepe University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Aynur Eren
AE
Topkaya
Sevki
S
Sahin
Fehime Benli
FB
Aksungar
Ulku Turk
UT
Boru
Zeynep
Z
Yildiz
Haydar
H
Sur
D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D000989:Antistreptolysin / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000989:Antistreptolysin; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases; C020069:deoxyribonuclease B