Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Symptomatic Epstein-Barr virus infection and multiple sclerosis

C N Martyn1, M Cruddas, D A Compston

  • 1MRC Environmental Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, UK.

Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
|February 1, 1993
PubMed
Summary

Epstein-Barr virus infection, particularly before age 18, significantly increases the risk of developing multiple sclerosis. This suggests a potential age-dependent link between EBV and MS pathogenesis.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Aluminium and Alzheimer's disease: An epidemiological approach.

Environmental geochemistry and health·2013
Same author

Subependymal nodules, giant cell astrocytomas and the tuberous sclerosis complex: a population-based study.

Archives of disease in childhood·2008
Same author

Maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy and child outcomes.

European journal of clinical nutrition·2007
Same author

Time and chance: the stochastic nature of disease causation.

Lancet (London, England)·2005
Same author

Epilepsy related mortality.

Archives of disease in childhood·2004
Same author

The relation of infantile spasms, tubers, and intelligence in tuberous sclerosis complex.

Archives of disease in childhood·2004

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Immunology
  • Virology

Background:

  • Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system.
  • The role of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in MS pathogenesis is an area of ongoing research.
  • Previous studies suggest a correlation between EBV infection and an increased risk of MS.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between infectious mononucleosis (IM) caused by EBV and the risk of developing multiple sclerosis.
  • To explore potential age-dependent effects of EBV infection on MS risk.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study was conducted with 214 patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
  • Participants' recall of infectious mononucleosis and serological status for Epstein-Barr viral capsid antigen were assessed.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Relative risks and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to determine the strength of associations.

    • Main Results:

    • Subjects seropositive for EBV capsid antigen who recalled infectious mononucleosis had a 2.9 times higher relative risk of MS.
    • Individuals reporting infectious mononucleosis before the age of 18 had a significantly elevated relative risk of MS, 7.9 times higher.
    • These findings indicate a strong association between EBV infection and MS, particularly when infection occurs during adolescence.

    Conclusions:

    • The pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis may involve an age-dependent host immune response to Epstein-Barr virus infection.
    • Infectious mononucleosis, especially in younger individuals, is a significant risk factor for developing multiple sclerosis.
    • Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise mechanisms linking EBV and MS.