Blood Test Identifies Biomarker Linked to MS

Antibody levels in blood produced in response to Epstein Barr Virus (EBV), could predict the course of multiple sclerosis (MS), or even indicate who is likely to develop the condition after a first MS-like attack.

Investigators studied 100 individuals, 50 of whom had a single MS-like attack but no diagnosis of MS, 25 people with relapsing remitting MS, and 25 with primary progressive MS. They tested the participants for evidence of EBV infection in the blood and also looked for anti-EBNA-1 Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and other EBV induced antibodies. MRI brain scans of each participant were taken over a five-year period to determine the disability progression.

EBV DNA in blood was quantified by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and EBV serology for anti-Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA-1) immunoglobulin G (IgG), antiviral capsid antigen (VCA) IgG, and anti-EBV IgM.

The work was performed by Dr. Rachel Farrell at the department of neuroinflammation, Institute of Neurology, University College London (UCL; London, UK) and colleagues. Dr. Farrell said, "All the participants in our study had previous history of infection with EBV, which has been shown in other studies and is not surprising given that a large majority of the adult population is infected with EB. What was surprising is that the levels of a molecule in the blood called anti-EBNA-1 IgG, induced by the virus, were associated with the activity of MS."

The study was reported in the July 2009 issue of the journal Neurology. The authors concluded that anti-EBNA-1 IgG is a potential biomarker in MS that might be useful in predicting disability and disease progression. They added that the work needed to be validated in larger studies and in combination with other yet unidentified biomarkers

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