title: MRI and visual-evoked potentials in partners of multiple sclerosis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Some epidemiological evidence, particularly concerning the role of Epstein Barr Virus implies that multiple sclerosis (MS) may be transmissible and if correct, this might be revealed by increased prevalence of MS in cohabiting partners.
  
  
  METHODS
  We addressed this problem by neurological assessment, visual-evoked potentials (VEP) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 112 partners of patients with MS in comparison to a control group of 93 individuals with clinically non-significant head or neck pain and in comparison to UK prevalence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found one instance of conjugal definite MS. Including this case, VEP were abnormal in five instances with either significant delay (n = 3) or increased interocular latency difference (IOLD) (n = 2) in partners of MS patients thus raising the possibility of subclinical optic nerve demyelination. The mean absolute value of IOLD in partners was greater than the value in controls (P = 0.033). There were no significant differences in MRI findings between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The finding of one conjugal pair and abnormal VEP in a further four MS partners could have several explanations. It is compatible with the concept of a transmissible agent, although our observations could be due to several biases as well as the play of chance alone.
authors: Essex Neuroscience Centre, Queens Hospital, Romford, UK. chrishawkes@msn.com
authors: C H
authors: CH
authors: Hawkes
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Chawda
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Derakshani
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Muhammed
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Visentin
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Boniface
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D018454:Spouses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*