Chickenpox virus activity seen in MS relapses
Here's another interesting finding on the topic of infectious agents in MS. A group of researchers in Mexico have noticed that in their country, the north-south gradient of MS prevalence matches that seen for the varicella-zoster virus (VZV, aka the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles). This correlation might just be a coincidence, but the research team has uncovered evidence of a true biological link between VZV and MS.
The researchers collected blood samples from 40 people with MS who were having a relapse, and then sampled them again two months later when they were in remission. They also collected samples from 91 other people with MS who were in remission as well as healthy controls and controls with other neurological diseases. The samples were analyzed for DNA fragments from varicella-zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), and herpes simplex virus (HSV) 1 and 2. They found VZV DNA in 95% of the relapse samples vs. 17% of the remission samples and none of the control samples. HHV-6 DNA was found in 24% of relapse samples and 2% of remission samples. The other viruses were either not seen or found about equally in all groups. Not all of the VZV DNA fragments tested for were found in all of the relapse samples, suggesting that the virus was not actively replicating in the blood cells themselves but that viral fragments were picked up by immune cells at a site of infection elsewhere in the body.
The authors speculate that after VZV infection, which typically happens early in life, in some people the virus travels from the peripheral nerves to the central nervous system. There it may provoke an immune reaction which leads to inflammation, demyelination, and loss of axons. Afterwards the virus goes into a dormant state leading to neurological remission. Further steps need to be carried out in order to test this hypothesis, some of which are very difficult (e.g., developing an animal model of VZV infection). However, the authors are following up by studying CSF samples and subjects with progressive MS.
Chickenpox virus and MS link
Would it be useful to start a poll amongst the brethern to see if anybody out there with MS has never had chickenpox? Most people seem to get chickenpox sometime in their youth, but there have to be some who never had it. I wonder if anybody in that small group has MS. Perhaps one of the preconditions to developing MS is having the chickenpox virus in your system.
I am one of those odd cases
I am one of those odd cases - I have not had chickenpox or shingles- there was one point in school when each student who sat near me had chickenpox (all 8 in the compass points around me). My best friend even had it. But I've had MS now for 8 years.
chicken pox story
What a fascinating study!
Have there been any chicken pox polls in the past? I'm really curious as to people's experiences with chicken pox, and also with shingles (personal and family members).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shingles
I had severe chicken pox when I was in high school, I was so ill for several months. I was the youngest of 5 kids so all my siblings had already been exposed right before I was born. My sister (who also has MS) was a baby when she contracted the chicken pox, and somehow her eyes were involved, though I'm not sure of the details. (Is it possible to get chicken pox on your eye?) She gets optic neuritis pretty bad (a symptom I haven't encountered myself).
Interesting food for thought.
vaccination
If VZV really is a significant cause of MS, then the current vaccination program ought to have some impact on MS rates a few years from now. It's reckoned to be better than 90% effective at preventing chickenpox in children.
But given that the vaccination uses a live form of VZV and is given to people with immature immune systems, I wonder, will later MS rates go down or up?
I've wondered about that myself...
...whether MS rates will go down in areas where kids are being vaccinated for VZV. A side note: my daughter is one of the minority of kids who was vaccinated but got chickenpox anyway, so I can tell you it definitely is not 100% effective!
it used to be measles
Didn't the same thing get said about the measles virus being found in the CSF of MS patients a few years ago?
I believe the CSF study
I believe the CSF study you're referring to may have looked for antibodies to measles, which don't necessarily indicate the presence or activity of the measles virus. This study is interesting in that the presence of VZV itself was associated with MS relapses.
shingles and MS
very interesting! At 30 years old I had shingles three times starting with my first MS attack. I took high doses of Famvir for six months which relieved both the shingles and the MS attack. They later took me off of the Famvir for fear of the long term side effects on me but it did work for both my MS and the shingles. Im now on one of the CRAB drugs. Copoxone and LDN.
Me, my sister, and the young
Me, my sister, and the young girl who used to baby sit us (in the 50's) all had the chicen pox at the same - we all have M.S.
How immune is immune?
I understand that about 21 of us, 10 years apart in age, from a small area of a midwestern city have MS. I would like to know the chicken pox histories of these other people.
How immune is immune? I thought this was black & white, yet .... I was 18 months old when I had the chicken pox. My mother once commented that 'they' wondered if my case would render me immune or not. I thought I proved myself immune when I was at home forever as my 4 children got the chicken pox almost one at a time. (they were all exposed to the sibling with chicken pox at the same time, but to varying degrees....)
m.s.
i also lived in the midwest i to have m.s. i think at least 2 of my children may have it but not proved yet they have also had the chicken pox one had them severe and the other had the mildest case .
Just diagnosed with Shingles today
Interesting find indeed. I just came home with a Rx of Valtrex for a case of Shingles. Oddly enough, I do not have MS relapses very often, and suspected my current vision problem was MS-related. Upon visiting the opthomologist today, I was diagnosed with Zoster (Shingles) in my right eye and cheek. I thought Shingles only occurred in older people.... It was the last thing I expected to be diagnosed with. I'm 31.
I have MS. I just got mt 3rd
I have MS. I just got mt 3rd infusion of Tysabri on tuesday and have been around my mom several times since. I just found out she has shingles and was told to stay away from me. Why? What can happen to me.
If anyone of you answer this
If anyone of you answer this I'll appreaciate. I am diagnosed for shingles 5 days ago. My sister, with MS, will visit me on May 10th. Is it risky for her to be around me ?
esra