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HHV6 EBVEA relapseprogression_actaneurolscand_for open access.doc (313 kB)

EBV & HHV6 reactivation is infrequent and not associated with MS clinical course

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journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 01:23 authored by Steve Simpson JRSteve Simpson JR, Bruce TaylorBruce Taylor, Burrows, J, Burrows, S, Dwyer, DE, Taylor, J, Ponsonby, A-L, Christopher BlizzardChristopher Blizzard, Dwyer, T, Pittas, F, Ingrid van der MeiIngrid van der Mei
BACKGROUND: Among the environmental factors associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) causation, some of the strongest associations are with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and to a lesser extent human herpesvirus 6 (HHV6). Associations with clinical course are less conclusive, however. METHODS: We evaluated serum anti-EBV-EA-R IgG and anti-HHV6 IgM, and EBV and HHV6 viral load (VL) for their associations with relapse, disability, and progression in disability in a prospective cohort of 198 participants with clinically definite MS. RESULTS: Anti-EBV-EA-R IgG was detected in 81.8% of cases at study entry, and titers remained essentially unchanged during the study. Anti-HHV6 IgM was detected in only one participant, and EBV-VL (29%) and HHV6-VL (1.8%) were detected in a minority of samples, and where detected levels were low. Our previously demonstrated association between anti-HHV6 IgG and relapse hazard was not affected by adjustment for parameters of reactivation. We found no evidence that any of the viral markers were associated with disability or progression in disability. In relation to relapse, only EBV-VL was positively associated, although this was strongly influenced by a single individual. CONCLUSION: Using a prospective cohort design, we found no convincing evidence that reactivation parameters of EBV or HHV6 were associated with subsequent MS relapse hazard or progression in disability, confirming previous findings, and indicating that herpesvirus reactivation is not an important driver of relapse or disability in this established MS population.

History

Publication title

Acta Neurologica Scandinavica

Volume

130

Issue

5

Pagination

328-337

ISSN

0001-6314

Department/School

Menzies Institute for Medical Research

Publisher

Blackwell Munksgaard

Place of publication

35 Norre Sogade, Po Box 2148, Copenhagen, Denmark, Dk-1016

Rights statement

Copyright 2014 John Wiley

Repository Status

  • Open

Socio-economic Objectives

Clinical health not elsewhere classified

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