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Multiple sclerosis attacks are associated with picornavirus infections.
John D Kriesel1, Andrea White, Frederick G Hayden
1Department of Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA. john.kriesel@hsc.utah.edu
Multiple Sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England)
|May 6, 2004
Summary
Picornaviruses may trigger relapses in multiple sclerosis (MS). This study found a significant association between picornavirus infections and MS attacks in patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS).
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic central nervous system demyelinating disease.
- Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) courses are characterized by discrete attacks.
- Upper respiratory infections (URIs) are linked to MS attacks, but causative viruses remain unidentified.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the viral causes of URIs in RRMS patients.
- To determine if specific viruses are associated with MS attacks following URIs.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 16 RRMS patients experiencing URIs was studied.
- Viral identification involved nasal swab culture, PCR, and serology.
- Sibley's 'at-risk' period (2 weeks pre-URI to 5 weeks post-URI) was used for analysis.
Main Results:
- Seven of nine (78%) picornavirus-associated URIs were linked to MS attacks.
- Only two of 12 (17%) picornavirus-negative URIs were associated with MS attacks.
- The association between picornaviruses and MS attacks was statistically significant (P = 0.01).
Conclusions:
- Picornaviruses are strongly associated with MS attacks following URIs in RRMS patients.
- These findings suggest a potential role for picornaviruses in MS pathogenesis.
- Further research into picornaviruses' role in MS is warranted.