Measles virus antibodies in multiple sclerosis. Comparison of antibody titers in cerebrospinal fluid and serum.

Abstract

Serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were collected from groups of 30 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), no known somatic disease, or other neurological disorders and moderately increased total CSF protein content. Anti-body titers against different measles virus components were measured. As a reference, levels of adenovirus and poliovirus antibodies were also determined. Significantly reduced ratios of measles virus hemagglutination-inhibiting (HI) or nucleocapsid complement-fixing (CF) antibodies or both in serum: CSF were found in 12 of the 30 MS patients. Additional analysis of hemolyzing-inhibiting antibodies in samples from 19 patients demonstrated substantially reduced ratios in five more cases of MS. None of the 60 control patients displayed a significantly reduced ratio. Measles antibodies may be produced in the central nervous system by activated latent virus infections in some patients with MS.