summary: Multiple sclerosis is a complex disease where infections, which occurred during the childhood, may play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease. More specifically the past infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been linked to the risk of developing MS. The authors of this study have investigated the relationship between EBV infection and the MRI outcome in 135 patients with MS. They suggest that evidence of a past infection with EBV (reflected by EBV antibodies) is associated with grey matter volume loss in MS and may be associated with the rate of this volume loss.

authors: Zivadinov R, Zorzon M, Weinstock-Guttman B, Serafin M, Bosco A, Bratina A, Grop A, Maggiore C, Tommasi MA, Srinivasaraghavan B, Ramanathan M

source: J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2009 Jan 23

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category: Virology

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