Strong Evidence That Epstein-Barr Virus Is One Trigger of Multiple Sclerosis

In 10 million people who were followed for decades, EBV infection almost always preceded initial MS symptoms.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) permanently infects about 95% of the world's adults. Linking such a ubiquitous virus to any disease is difficult, but a new study strongly ties EBV to multiple sclerosis (MS).

Between 1993 and 2013, more than 10 million active-duty U.S. military members gave blood samples at the start of military service and every 2 years thereafter. Among 801 people with incident MS, 800 had antibodies to EBV in their last samples before their MS symptoms began. The hazard ratio for developing MS among initially EBV-negative people who became infected, compared with people who remained seronegative, was 32.4. A screen for antibodies to most known viral pathogens revealed no other virus with as strong an association to MS. MS typical…

Reviewing Author

Anthony L. Komaroff, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardSerImmune Inc.; DxTerity

Grant / Research SupportNIH (1U54NS105542-01)

Editorial BoardsHarvard Health Letter; UpToDate

Anthony L. Komaroff, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardSerImmune Inc.; DxTerity

Grant / Research SupportNIH (1U54NS105542-01)

Editorial BoardsHarvard Health Letter; UpToDate

Strong Evidence That Epstein-Barr Virus Is One Trigger of Multiple Sclerosis

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Reviewing Author