neuroimmunology-2017-posters-accepted-abstracts

Page 39

Notes:

ISSN:2171-6625

September 18-19, 2017 | Dallas, USA

International Conference on

NEUROLOGY AND NEUROIMMUNOLOGY

espite an extensive search for viruses related to multiple

sclerosis (MS) and the isolation of multiple agents from

MS brain specimens, none have been clearly tied back to

the disease as causative agents. It is clear that Epstein-Barr

virus (EBV) is important in its pathogenesis but it does not

appear to be, in and of itself, causative. It has been shown

that some of the oligoclonal bands seen in the spinal fluid

are directed against EBV antigens but the evidence of the

presence of the virus in the lesions is controversial and

the best evidence seems to indicate that it is not present

in the nervous system. Herpes VI has been found in some

MS lesions and may play a role in some cases. Anti-herpes

drugs appear to be helpful based on some phase II trials data

but no real phase III trials have been done and the phase II

trials were too small to clearly establish the benefit though

there was a strong trend that suggested a larger trial was

warranted. Additionally, there is good evidence that epitope

spreading is an important factor in disease activity.

Multiple sclerosis: what we know, what we believe and what we don’t know about the immunology

of the disease(s)

Robert M Herndon

Mississippi State University, USA

J Neurol Neurosci, 8:5

DOI: 10.21767/2171-6625-C1-003