Multiple sclerosis and autoimmunity: learnings from post-streptococcal autoimmunity - PubMed
5 hours ago
- #Multiple sclerosis
- #Epstein-Barr virus
- #Autoimmunity
- Group A streptococcus (GAS) causes acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and other autoimmune diseases.
- Primary prevention of ARF involves treating acute pharyngitis with antibiotics.
- Secondary prevention of ARF includes long-term prophylactic antibiotics to prevent chronic damage.
- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is likely the cause of multiple sclerosis (MS).
- EBV-associated infectious mononucleosis (IM) is a significant risk factor for MS.
- Treating IM with antivirals may prevent or reduce MS incidence.
- Chronic administration of EBV antivirals could prevent MS attacks and disability.
- Strategies to prevent and treat MS include targeting EBV latent-lytic cycling.