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Is multiple sclerosis caused by an oral spirochaete?
Lancet (London, England)
|July 12, 1986
Abstract:
Evidence of a direct link between chronic sinusitis and multiple sclerosis (MS) prompted examination of the old "spirochaetal hypothesis". This hypothesis has not been shown to be erroneous and a spirochaetal infection of the central nervous system could explain the specific pathological, immunological, and epidemiological features of MS.
Insights
Chronic sinusitis may be linked to multiple sclerosis (MS). A spirochaetal infection of the central nervous system is re-examined as a potential cause for MS characteristics.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Immunology
- Infectious Disease
Background:
- Emerging evidence suggests a direct association between chronic sinusitis and multiple sclerosis (MS).
- The historical
- spirochaetal hypothesis
- regarding MS etiology remains unrefuted.
- Spirochaetal infections are known to affect the central nervous system.
Purpose of the Study:
- To re-evaluate the
- spirochaetal hypothesis
- as a potential explanation for multiple sclerosis.
- To explore how a central nervous system spirochaetal infection could account for MS pathology, immunology, and epidemiology.
Main Methods:
- Review and re-examination of existing evidence supporting the
- spirochaetal hypothesis
- in the context of chronic sinusitis and MS.
- Comparative analysis of pathological, immunological, and epidemiological features of MS with known effects of spirochaetal infections.
Main Results:
- The
- spirochaetal hypothesis
- has not been disproven and warrants further investigation.
- A central nervous system spirochaetal infection provides a plausible framework for understanding key aspects of MS.
Conclusions:
- The link between chronic sinusitis and MS strengthens the case for investigating spirochaetal infections.
- Spirochaetal etiology offers a unifying explanation for the complex features observed in multiple sclerosis.