HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Correspondence: Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Correspondence are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by WEINER, H. L. Articles by MCINTOSH, K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by WEINER, H. L. Articles by MCINTOSH, K.

Decreased lymphocyte transformation to vaccinia virus in multiple sclerosis

Department of Neurology (Dr. Weiner) and Departments of Pediatrics and Microbiology (Dr. McIntosh), University of Colorado Medical Center, Denver, Colorado, and the Department of Pediatrics, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California (Dr. Cherry).

Lymphocyte transformation to vaccinia virus was measured in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and normal controls. There was a significant reduction of lymphocyte transformation to vaccinia virus in multiple sclerosis patients compared with the control group. In addition, a positive correlation existed between the degree of disability of the multiple sclerosis patients and the extent of lymphocyte transformation in the presence of vaccinia virus. There was no correlation between cell-mediated immunity to vaccinia virus and either serum or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) antibody levels to vaccinia in multiple sclerosis patients or controls, all of whom had been previously vaccinated. In conjunction with other studies that have demonstrated elevated antibody titers to vaccinia virus in the CSF of multiple sclerosis patients, these results support the possibility that vaccinia virus may play a role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis.

Dr. Weiner's present address is Neurology Section, Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115.

This study was supported in part by grant RG-812-6-2 from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, grant NS-10590-03 from the National Institutes of Health, and grant N01-A1-52523 from the U.S. Public Health Service.

Accepted for publication June 2, 1977.