Key points
- In a longitudinal study that followed individuals seronegative for Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) over time, multiple sclerosis (MS) risk increased more than 30-fold after EBV infection. The results are unlikely to be explained by reverse causation or confounding factors.
- Among individuals who are EBV positive, those with a history of infectious mononucleosis or with high antibody titres against EBV nuclear antigens have an increased risk of developing MS.
- Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the link between EBV and MS, including molecular mimicry and an altered immune response to poorly controlled EBV infection.
- Vaccines that might prevent EBV infection are currently being developed. If effective, these vaccines would be expected to prevent most MS cases.
- Targeting EBV with therapeutic vaccines or antiviral drugs could represent a novel treatment strategy for MS.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41582-023-00775-5