A Commentary on the Use of Epstein-Barr Virus Specific Antibodies as Biological Markers in Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic demyelinating and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS), whose pathogenesis likely involves an interaction of environmental factors with a genetic predisposition. The hypothesis that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a ubiquitous human γ-herpesvirus may be a causal agent pivots on the evidence of EBV-specific antibodies high titers in MS patients as compared to controls, and on the observed direct association between such antibodies titers and disease activity. However, the literature on the possible etiological role of EBV is conflicting. This commentary aims to provide an overview on the use of EBV-specific antibodies as biomarkers in MS course.