Modern Medical Laboratory Journal

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system of unknown etiology. The demyelination in the brain and spinal cord is an immune-mediated process possibly triggered by a viral infection . Among the putative causal agents, the top candidate is Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). EBV is a human herpesvirus that after infection persists in latent form in B lymphocytes throughout the life of the host. According to a study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health researchers, MS, a progressive disease that affects 2.8 million people worldwide and for which there is no definitive cure, is likely caused by infection with the EBV. To determine the connection between EBV and MS, the researchers conducted a study among more than 10 million young adults on active duty in the U.S. military and identified 955 who were diagnosed with MS during their period of service.
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