Infective Agents and Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Sera from 96 cases of multiple sclerosis and from 96 matched controls were examined for complement-fixation antibodies to herpes, mumps, the psittacosis-lymphogranuloma group, measles, varicella-zoster, poliovirus type 1 and type 2, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. C.F. antibody for each of the agents except Q fever was consistently present in a greater number of cases than controls, although a statistically significant difference was obtained only with varicella-zoster. Several possible explanations for these findings are discussed. Sera from 30 of the cases with matched controls were also examined for microagglutinating antibodies to several rickettsial agents. No appreciable differences in micro-agglutinating antibodies were detected. Clinical histories of previous infection with mumps and herpes, and histories of close contact with birds or animals, were equally prevalent in the multiple sclerosis and control groups; for measles, chickenpox, and shingles clinical information was insufficient for analysis. © 1965, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.