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Development of an IFN-γ ELISpot Assay to Assess Varicella-Zoster Virus-specific Cell-mediated Immunity Following Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation
Published on: July 9, 2014
Frequent association of multiple sclerosis with varicella and zoster
C Perez-Cesari1, M M Saniger, J Sotelo
1Neuroimmunology Unit, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico.
Background:
A possible association of multiple sclerosis (MS) with viral diseases has been postulated; in previous studies we have found that in Mexican mestizos the antecedent of varicella during childhood represents a risk factor for the development of MS during adulthood.
Aim:
We conducted a retrospective search for varicella and zoster infections associated with the development of MS.
Methods And Results:
In a cohort of 82 consecutive patients with MS we found six cases, four of varicella and two of zoster, that were concurrent with the development or the progress of MS.
Conclusions:
The association of these pathologies is higher than expected and suggests a possible etiological relationship of the varicella zoster virus with MS.
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