Jane.... per your request:
Barb Mallut
[log in to unmask]
The discovery of the herpes virus in the brains and blood of
multiple sclerosis patients may help researchers develop new
treatments for the disease.
Scientists at the Institute for Viral Pathogenesis in
Milwaukee, Wis., found herpes virus-6 in the brains of eight of 11
multiple sclerosis patients studied and in the blood of 14 of 25
other multiple sclerosis patients.
Researchers have suspected that some type of virus triggered
the disease, in which the immune system attacks nerve fibers, causing
paralysis and sometimes death.
Donald Carrigan, co-author of the study presented at a
conference of the American Neurological Association in Montreal, says
the virus was found only in areas of the brain already damaged by
multiple sclerosis.
People can carry many types of viruses and bacteria in their
bodies, leading researchers to suspect that multiple sclerosis may
have more than one cause.
The onset of multiple sclerosis, which affects about 300,000
Americans, can occur from the teenage years into middle age.
-----Original Message-----
From: Jane Koenig <[log in to unmask]>
To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN
<[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thursday, October 22, 1998 9:36 AM
Subject: Re: Virus discovered which causes MS?
>At 11:33 AM 10/22/98 -0400, Bruce McCallum wrote:
>>I think I heard on the radio that the virus which causes MS has
been
>>identified and that drugs that slow or halt the symptom progression
have
>>been identified. Has anyone else heard this and can they kindly
give me
>>details? Thanks
>>
>Bruce, et al,
>
>There was a segment on this on the Nightly News 2 or 3 days ago.
Today I
>noticed a short piece in the Atlanta Constitution. I'm probably
violating
>all sorts of copyright laws here, but I'll just type it in as
written:
>
>Herpes virus linked to MS?
>The discovery of herpes in the brains of those with multiple
sclerosis
>could lead to new treatment for a disease that affects more than
300,000
>people in the United States, researchers say. The findings
announced
>Tuesday provide circumstantial evidence that the viral infection may
cause
>the debilitating disease. Scientists have long suspected a virus
triggers
>MS, which prompts the immune system to attack nerve fibers, causing
>paralysis and in rare cases, death. Experts said more research was
needed,
>but said they hoped the study is a step toward new treatments for
MS.
>Human herpes virus-6 was found in the brains of eight of 11 MS
patients
>studied by scientists at the Institute for Viral Pathogenesis in
Milwaukee.
> The virus was also found in the blood of 14 of 25 patients.
>
>I'm sure more detail can be found by our expert Web surfers here.
>
>Jane Koenig
>daughter of Fred (81/1)
>Marietta, GA
>
