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The relationship between HLA antigens and measles antibody titers was investigated in 105 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. HLA antigens were determined serologically by a micro-lymphocytotoxicity test and measles antibody titers were determined by the hemagglutination inhibition test. There was an increased frequency of HLA-B7 and HLA-Bw35 antigens and a decreased frequency of HLA-A2, HLA-B12, and HLA-Bw40 antigens in MS. Measles antibody titers were significantly higher in MS than in control cases. In the MS patients, the chi-square test for homogeneity did not show any significant difference between the presence or absence of antigens HLA-A3, HLA-B7, HLA-B8 HLA-A2 or HLA-B12 when compared with measles antibody titers. The chi-square test for association did not show any significant difference between the presence or absence of these antigens compared with measles antibody titers above 1:64 or 1:128 or 1:256. However, there were significantly higher measles antibody geometric mean titers in MS patients with HLA-A3 antigen or lacking HLA-A2 antigen. In the case of HLA-A3, this was reflected in the female but not in the male patients. The increased measles HI antibody titer in MS may be related to the increased frequency of HLA-A3, or the decreased frequency of HLA-A2, or both.

The prevalence and titer of serum antibodies to several Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antigens were compared among patients with multiple sclerosis, healthy siblings of multiple sclerosis patients, patients with other neurological diseases, and healthy non-blood-related subjects. Serum-cerebrospinal fluid (serum-CSF) pairs were available on a selected number of multiple sclerosis and control subjects. An increased antibody response to EBV antigens was noted rather consistently in the sera of the multiple sclerosis group in comparison with the control groups. A greater number of reduced ratios of serum:CSF IgG antibody to EBV-capsid antigen and antibody to EBV-early antigen components than to adenovirus, a reference or control virus, were found in the multiple sclerosis group. Reduced ratios of these EBV antibodies were detected more frequently or showed a trend in this direction in multiple sclerosis patients compared with the group with other neurological diseases. Our findings extend the results of an earlier report and strengthen the association between EBV and multiple sclerosis.

Serum antibody titers to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), an agent that persists in a latent form after the initial infection, were determined in 157 patients with multiple sclerosis and in 81 control subjects. Two patients (1.3%) and five control subjects (6.2%) lacked antibodies to EBV. In the subjects with antibodies, the prevalence of high titers (greater than or equal to 1:160) was significantly greater in patients, 69 (44.5%), than in control subjects, 22 (28.9%). The geometric mean titer of antibodies to EBV was significantly higher in patients, 107.0, than in control subjects, 77.1. There was no association between antibody titers and duration or activity of the disease. These findings further support the contention that patients with multiple sclerosis have a general aberration of the immunological system.