Multiple sclerosis-associated retrovirus and progressive disability of multiple sclerosis.
Retrovirus-like particles containing the multiple sclerosis-associated retrovirus RNA, significantly found in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis, have been preliminarily associated with a short-term poor clinical and radiological prognosis of the disease. We asked whether these prognostic indications are still measurable after a long-term clinical evaluation (10 years). Our 10-year blind observational study confirms that the presence of multiple sclerosis-associated retrovirus in the cerebrospinal fluid of early multiple sclerosis patients is associated with a significantly greater rate of relapse-unrelated unremitting disability and secondary progression of the disease.
Sotgiu
S
S
Section of Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy. stesot@hotmail.com
Mameli
G
G
Serra
C
C
Zarbo
I R
IR
Arru
G
G
Dolei
A
A
D015331:Cohort Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011379:Prognosis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D012008:Recurrence; D012190:Retroviridae
D012367:RNA, Viral