[Relationship between EB virus, Cytomegalo virus, herpes simplex virus and coxsackievirus infection and relapse of multiple sclerosis].

Objective: To study the relation between the recent active infection with Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus,herpes simplex virus-1, coxsackievirus B I-IV and the relapse of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RR MS).

Methods: Using ELISA method, IgM antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus-1, coxsackievirus BI-IV in the plasma from 34 RR MS patients and 200 normal controls were detected. The rates of recent active infection with the above mentioned viruses of the patients and controls were compared.For patients group,comparison was also made between the clinical data of recent active infected patients and patients without recent active infection.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference in positive rates of positive rates of IgM antibodies against Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus-1 and coxsackievirus BI, II, III or VI between the two groups. While there was statistically significant difference in positive rates of IgM antibodies to coxsackievirus B VI and V in the RR MS patients and those in the controls (being 3/34 and 0/200 P < 0.05; 2/34 and 0/200 P < 0.05, respectively). In the patient group, when patients who had active infection with any of the viruses were compared with those who had no active infection, no significant difference between them was found in terms of age, course, frequency, body temperature on admission, differential leukocyte count (neutrophilic granulocyte, lymphocyte and monocytes), use of glucocorticoids, and EDSS point value.

Conclusions: There is a high rate of recent active infection with coxsackievirus B VI and V in RR MS patients at relapsing stage. While the recent virus active infection is unrelated to the severity of the symptoms.