Cited by 2,049Multiple Sclerosis Research StudiesViral-associated cancers and disordersCytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research

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Longitudinal analysis reveals high prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus associated with multiple sclerosis

Bjornevik, Kjetil, Cortese, Marianna, Healy, Brian C., Kuhle, Jens, Mina, Michael J., Leng, Yumei, Elledge, Stephen J., Niebuhr, David W., Scher, Ann I., Munger, Kassandra L., Ascherio, Alberto·2022·Science

DOI 10.1126/science.abj8222

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Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system of unknown etiology. We tested the hypothesis that MS is caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in a cohort comprising more than 10 million young adults on active duty in the US military, 955 of whom were diagnosed with MS during their period of service. Risk of MS increased 32-fold after infection with EBV but was not increased after infection with other viruses, including the similarly transmitted cytomegalovirus. Serum levels of neurofilament light chain, a biomarker of neuroaxonal degeneration, increased only after EBV seroconversion. These findings cannot be explained by any known risk factor for MS and suggest EBV as the leading cause of MS.

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Background
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Authors: Bjornevik, K., Cortese, M., Healy, B. C., Kuhle, J., Mina, M. J., Leng, Y., Elledge, S. J., Niebuhr, D. W., Scher, A. I., Munger, K. L., & Ascherio, A.
Affiliations: Department of Nutrition, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
Harvard University (US)
Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
Neurologic Clinic and Policlinic, MS Center and Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB), University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (US)
Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Corresponding author: Cortese, Marianna
Munger, Kassandra L.
Ascherio, Alberto
ORCID: Bjornevik, Kjetil
Cortese, Marianna
Healy, Brian C.
Mina, Michael J.
Leng, Yumei
Elledge, Stephen J.
Munger, Kassandra L.
Ascherio, Alberto
Venue: Science
Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Published: 2022-01-21
Volume: 375
Issue: 6578
Pages: 296-301
ISSN: 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
1095-9203
DOI: 10.1126/science.abj8222
OpenAlex: W4205972999
Cited by: 2,049
References: 51
Citations by year: 2026: 354 · 2025: 412 · 2024: 461 · 2023: 432 · 2022: 388
FWCI: 289.56
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Science (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: Howard Hughes Medical Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01NS042194, R01NS046635, R01NS103891)
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Clinical Neurology › Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies
Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Viral-associated cancers and disorders
Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research
Keywords: multiple sclerosis, Epstein-Barr virus, viral etiology, neurofilament light chain, neuroaxonal degeneration, cytomegalovirus, demyelinating disease, military personnel
MeSH terms: Antibodies, Viral, Cytomegalovirus, Herpesvirus 4, Human, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Military Personnel, Multiple Sclerosis, Risk Factors, Cohort Studies, Biomarkers, Prevalence, Neurofilament Proteins, Age of Onset, Epstein-Barr Virus Infections, Young Adult

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Longitudinal analysis reveals high prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus associated with multiple sclerosis

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