Comparison of Epstein - Barr virus Antibodies in the serum of patients with Multiple Sclerosis and normal people in Sanandaj, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the chronic inflammatory diseases of the Nervous system. The cause of the disease has not yet been clearly identified. Environmental factors and infections, including the Epstein - Barr virus (EBV), are hypothesized to be the cause of the disease. Our goal was to compare the serum antibody level against EBV in patients with MS and healthy people in Sanandaj, Iran. Methods: In this case-control study, 100 patients with MS who were registered in the MS Society of Sanandaj and 204 gender matched healthy blood donors from the Sanandaj Blood Transfusion Organization (control group) who signed an inform consent were studied from 2015 to 2016. A 5 ml blood sample was obtained from all subjects and then after isolation of patients' sera, IgG antibodies against EBV-CA and EBNA-1 antigens were measured by ELISA method. Demographic data and the results of the tests were analyzed by SPSS software and Chi-square test. Results: EBNA-1 antigen was found in 92% of patient group and 91% of control group (P= 0.959). Serum anti EBV positivity was significantly higher among women (p=0.012). The EBV-CA antigen was positive in 95% ofthe patient group and 90% of controls (p= 0.229). There was no significant gender difference for this test (p=0.115). Conclusion: There was no significant difference in the results of IgG antibodies against EBV in patients with MS and healthy controls in Sanandaj.