A study published two weeks ago in Science, one of the most respected scientific journals in the world, had a great impact in the medical world. According to the results of the research, Epstein Barr Virus (EBV), which causes the infection known as “kissing disease” among the people, causes Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a neurological immune system disease.
More than 10 million US military personnel were followed for nearly 20 years in research conducted in the US Army. It was understood that the military personnel who were followed throughout the study and who did not initially have MS but were later diagnosed with MS were infected with EBV in this process. Almost all of those diagnosed with MS had EBV infection within an average of 5 years. The study’s data showed that EBV increased the risk of MS 32 times. For almost 50 years, the suspicions that MS can occur due to viral causes, for the first time after hundreds of studies, have found the answer “clearly” with this study.
The study also revealed that those who had the kissing disease (mononucleosis) had a higher risk of developing MS than those who had symptoms. Scientists think that the immune system’s reaction to EBV infection causes MS in some people. The main concern now is whether the “coronavirus family viruses”, which were previously thought to be the cause of MS, will lead to an explosion in MS cases in the long term with this epidemic.
THE CLEAREST STUDY EVER DONE
Sancaktepe İlhan Varank Training and Research Hospital MS Polyclinic Supervisor and Neurology Specialist Assoc. Dr. Pointing out that there have been studies in the past that viruses from the coronavirus family may also play a role in the mechanism of MS formation, Serkan Demir said, “We also had patients diagnosed with MS after Kovid in this process. We cannot say this in the short term, but the real long-term effects of Kovid scare us.”
THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION HAS BEEN SEEKING FOR 50 YEARS
Explaining that the possible relationship between EBV and MS was first revealed in a study published in 1972 and that over 700 publications were made on this subject in 50 years, Assoc. Dr. Demir said that this latest publication is a very important study that clearly reveals the MS-EBV relationship among all, and gave the following information: “MS disease is seen three times more frequently in women, it is more common in the 20-40 age group, and after traffic accidents. It is a multifactorial, neurodegenerative, probable autoimmune disease that is the most common cause of disability in young adults.Unfortunately, the exact cause is still unknown.
The meaning of multifactorial is as follows; It is a complex disease caused by both environmental, genetic and past infections and the climate you live in. We estimate that there are approximately 75,000 MS patients in Turkey. In a study conducted by the Turkish MS Society (including 1500 MS patients), the proportion of women is approximately 72 percent. Clear data has been published that Epstein Barr Virus is one of the real causes of MS. The US Army is already keeping these data very solid.”
WHILE THE EBV TESTS WERE NEGATIVE, THEY DID NOT HAVE MS
In this new study, Assoc. Dr. Demir said, “Both viral and autoimmune screening and detailed examinations are carried out. Then, these scans are performed again on people who have MS or other diseases during their military service, to see what has changed. More than 30 people are diagnosed with MS and 95% of these patients are diagnosed. It is seen that EBV infection tests were negative when ‘s started their military service, but positive after receiving MS. Preliminary data were already published on this subject in 2013. Viral hypotheses are widely discussed in the pathogenesis of MS (the mechanism of formation of the disease). This is not only for EBV, but For example, there are hypotheses that the CMV virus, even the currently popular coronavirus, may play a role in the etiology (reasons behind) of MS. When we wonder, suspect and scan our patients, we see that most of them have had EBV infection. However, our rate of this positivity is very high in our normal population.” said.”
IT CAN ALSO MIX WITH LYMPHOMA AT PRIMARY
Stating that EBV can cause symptoms such as mild cold and flu in some, and that others can have this infection asymptomatically, that is silently, Associate Professor Dr. Demir continued his words as follows: It is an infection that can affect many systems such as muscle pain, fever, liver enzyme elevation, swelling of the lymph nodes, and even initially can be confused with lymphoma. As with other viral infections, symptomatic treatment is done with good nutrition, plenty of fluids and antipyretic drugs. Whether symptomatic or asymptomatic patients with EBV infection are more susceptible to MS, the data on this subject are not yet clear. We may not have much chance to be protected from viruses such as EBV, but thanks to the masked period for 2 years, there has actually been a decrease in all infections. Like other viruses that cause respiratory tract infections, EBV is transmitted through secretions, sneezing, sneezing, etc.
“WE HAVE PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH MS AFTER COVID”
Stating that there are also patients diagnosed with MS after suffering the coronavirus, Assoc. Dr. Demir said that more research is needed and concluded his words as follows: “For this, it is necessary to make a really serious statistics. The rate of getting MS in the previous year and this year’s MS cases really need to be compared. , they investigated this in the diagnostic treatment guides of the 2000s or in some studies. There is data that viruses in the coronavirus family may also play a role in the formation of MS. There are phase 0 animal studies. A little time will tell. We may not understand it in the short term, but the real longevity of Kovid Period effects scare us.In addition, those who have mild Omicron or other variants, those who have mild symptoms without hospitalization, may not be very worried, but as a physician, I think and worry that serious follow-up should be made in terms of the long-term effects of this infection. That’s why. The real effects of the coronavirus may emerge after a while. I think it will. My suggestion to our citizens is that the mask distance and hygiene rules are still in operation. They should definitely pay attention to this and make sure they get their vaccinations.”
DHA