Multiple sclerosis, lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma: the central role of Epstein-Barr virus?
BACKGROUND
Multiple sclerosis (MS) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) share epidemiologic characteristics suggesting a possible common etiology. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with HL, Burkitt lymphoma, some varieties of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).


METHODS
Patients were located through MS databases for (a) Barking and Havering, NE London; catchment approximately 400,000; MS patient number 751, and (b) Nottingham, catchment approximately 2,000,000; MS patient number 1,236. Search was undertaken for lymphoma or NPC and diagnosis of MS verified by McDonald criteria.


RESULTS
We identified five UK-born and resident patients of interest: (1) male with onset HL aged 20 years developing relapsing-remitting MS 11 years later; (2) female with severe relapsing-remitting MS whose partner developed NHL, 5 years after MS diagnosis; (3) female with secondary progressive MS beginning at age 38 years who developed NHL 25 years later; (4) female diagnosed with MS aged 19 years who developed HL 4 years later, and (5) female with hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy developing cervical cancer at the age of 32 years, NPC at 33 years, and RR MS at 36 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study supports a possible association between MS, HL, NHL, and perhaps NPC all of which are associated with EBV infection.
Rolls
Alexander E S
AE
Essex Neuroscience Centre, Queens Hospital, Romford, UK.
Giovannoni
Gavin
G
Constantinescu
Cris S
CS
Boniface
David
D
Hawkes
Christopher H
CH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016208:Databases, Factual; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult