Journal article
EBV and HHV6 reactivation is infrequent and not associated with MS clinical course
S Simpson, B Taylor, J Burrows, S Burrows, DE Dwyer, J Taylor, AL Ponsonby, L Blizzard, T Dwyer, F Pittas, I van der Mei
Acta Neurologica Scandinavica | WILEY | Published : 2014
DOI: 10.1111/ane.12268
Abstract
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 o..
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Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Acknowledgements
The MS Longitudinal Study was funded by a grant from the Australian National Health & Medical Research Council (Project 211308). Additional funding for measurement of serological and VL parameters was funded by a grant from the Australian National Health & Medical Research Council (Project 490020). SSJ is supported by a Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia Postdoctoral Research Fellowship. I. v. d. M. is supported by a Future Fellowship from the Australian Research Council.