[Viral infections in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis]

In the paper the current opinion on the role of viral infections in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis is presented. The results of epidemiological and serological studies are discussed as well as the results of viral isolation attempts and the search for virus structures in CNS of MS patients. Relation between viral infections and MS exacerbations and postulated mechanisms of virus-induced demyelination is described.