Multiple Sclerosis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Multiple Sclerosis, including details on diagnosis, symptoms, treatment, prognosis.

High seroprevalence of Epstein-Barr virus in children with multiple sclerosis.

Pohl D, Krone B, Rostasy K, Kahler E, Brunner E, Lehnert M, Wagner HJ, Gärtner J, Hanefeld F

Brauweg 19, 37073 Goettingen, Germany. dani.pohl@gmx.net

We studied seroprevalence and concentrations of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antibodies in 147 pediatric patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and paired controls. The children with MS showed a near-complete seropositivity for EBV antibody against virus capsid antigen (98.6% vs 72.1% in controls, p = 0.001) but did not display serologic evidence for a recent EBV infection. EBV antibody concentrations of pediatric patients with MS were significantly higher vs controls.

Published 12 December 2006 in Neurology, 67(11): 2063-5.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Multiple Sclerosis Research Today. All Rights Reserved.