Infectious mononucleosis and risk for multiple sclerosis: a meta-analysis.

Evan L Thacker, Fariba Mirzaei, Alberto Ascherio

Journal: Annals of neurology 2006;59(3):499-503

PMID: 16502434

Abstract

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the association between infectious mononucleosis (IM), a frequent clinical manifestation of primary Epstein-Barr virus infection after childhood, and the risk for multiple sclerosis (MS).

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control and cohort studies of IM and MS.

RESULTS

The combined relative risk of MS after IM from 14 studies was 2.3 (95% confidence interval, 1.7-3.0; p < 10(-8)). Potential sources of heterogeneity (ie, study design, MS definition, and latitude) barely influenced our results.

INTERPRETATION

We conclude that Epstein-Barr virus infection manifesting as IM in adolescents and young adults is a risk factor for MS.

Address: Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA. [email protected]

DOI: 10.1002/ana.20820

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MeSH Terms: Adolescent, Adult, Child, Confidence Intervals, Epstein-Barr Virus Infections, Female, Humans, Infectious Mononucleosis, Male, Multiple Sclerosis, Odds Ratio, Retrospective Studies, Risk, Risk Factors