IS MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS CAUSED BY A DUAL INFECTION WITH RETROVIRUS AND EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS

Although the etiology of multiple sclerosis is as yet unknown, epidemiological observations strongly point toward one or more infectious agent(s) being involved in the disease. In recent years some studies have indicated involvement of retrovirus in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, an intrafamilial epidemiological study revealed that MS and the known human retroviruses had a divergent epidemiology. Some studies have shown the association of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) with MS and one recent study revealed dual infection by retrovirus and EBV in a cell line established from a patient with an MS-like disease. Our hypothesis for the development of MS and MS-like diseases is that a hitherto uncharacterized retrovirus is the etiological agent, but development of neurologic disease is related to or even dependent on a delayed EBV infection. The dual infection hypothesis is analyzed and found to be consistent with the epidemiological characteristics of MS.