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Send reply to: Parkinson's Information Exchange Network <[log in to unmask]> From: Mary Ann Ryan <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: Ivan's PD/HDV theory To: [log in to unmask] Date sent: Mon, 31 Jan 2000 22:03:38 -0500 > Wow, Bob. What happened to the research that revealed that the Herpes VI > virus was the common denominator in all M.S. patients tested? When was > that refuted. ---- God bless Mary Ann (who wants to stay current on these > things :-) > Ivan and Mary Ann, What about the same virus in the general population? Seriously, Listmembers, the history of various agents with multiple sclerosis is long and frustrating. I have been through various eras of such, dating back to the fifties, when I was in medical school and the target was diabetes and the (early) oral antidiabetic agents (Tolbutamide/Orinase). MS patients were tried on Orinase, and sure enough, many got better. What was lost sight of was the fact that most cases of MS are characterized by remissions and that almost *all* patients with the disease get better before getting worse again later. The next set of theories were related to autoimmune phenomena (and this may have some merit). Thus, the use of steroids in the treatment of MS; and again, the same tendency of the illness to get better made evaluation of the treatment very suspect. The next big hypothesis was related to the vaccinia virus. It was shown, statistically, that the highest worldwide incidence of MS was in Northern Europe and North America. It was also noted that, before World War II, MS was almost unknown in Japan. Somebody figured out that Japan did not use the vaccinia (cowpox) virus to immunize people against smallpox, they rather used an attenuated version of the smallpox virus (variola) itself. During World War II, however, Japan and Germany were allied, and Germany used the vaccinia virus for smallpox immunization, and the Japanese began using it. Suddenly, the incidence of MS in Japan began to increase. Thus, the theory. In the western world, smallpox is now unknown, and so, people are no longer being immunized against it (either with vaccinia or variola virus). Has the incidence of MS decreased? No. I have researched MEDLINE on the alleged relationship between MS and what Ivan calls Herpes VI (it is actually HHV-6), which is a relative of the cytomegalovirus which affects people afflicted with HIV to a much greater degree than the general population. There have been some articles (very basic science) which suggest that HHV-6 may be present in patients with MS, but the virus may be present in many people who do not have MS. In addition, people who are actively infected with HHV-6 do not get MS. The work is very early. There is, of course, a possibility that this work may be productive. It would be wonderful if it is. But, judging from the very new nature of this work; along with the history of other "theories" in multiple sclerosis, anyone saying, like Ivan, that MS is caused by a herpesvirus (or that any extrapolation to Parkinson's disease is justified), is, at best, premature, and really does a disservice to those of us who try to be scientific in our passing of information to the Listmembers. Best, Bob ********************************************** Robert A. Fink, M. D., F.A.C.S., P. C. 2500 Milvia Street Suite 222 Berkeley, California 94704-2636 Telephone: 510-849-2555 FAX: 510-849-2557 WWW: http://www.dovecom.com/rafink/ mailto:[log in to unmask] "Ex Tristitia Virtus" *********************************************