Clinical and immunological features of multiple sclerosis combined with persistent herpes viral infection

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the symptomatology of multiple sclerosis (MS) and to evaluate the immune status in patients with reactivation of persistent herpes viral infection (PHVI). Material and Methods. We examined 56 patients with definite multiple sclerosis (MS) and 20 patients treated for other diseases of nervous system (radicu-iar syndrome caused by degenerative disease backbone) (comparison group). The MS patients were divided into 2 groups: patients without reactivation of PHVI (typical MS) and patients with reactivation of PHVI (virus-associated MS). The PHVI reactivation was registered in the case of presence of the appropriate clinical features and it was also verified by serological methods (ELISA). The symptomatology of MS was evaluated according to FS and EDSS scales. We performed the study of cell and humoral adaptive immunity. Results. Patients with reactivation of PHVI had more significant neurological symptomatology, more frequent relapses of MS, a higher speed of MS progression compared with typical MS patients. The immune status features in virus-associated MS patients can be estimated as a combination of secondary immunodeficiency (T-cell mediated) and active autoimmune process (the activation of B-cell component). Conclusion. It was revealed more significant neurological symptomatology, severer MS course and markers of secondary immunodeficiency in MS patients with reactivation of PHVI.