Cytomegalovirus Seroposivity in Iranian Multiple Sclerosis: A randomized case-control study

Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of central nervous system. Environmental factors such as different viruses have proposed to be involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). This study was aimed to evaluate Cytomegalovirus (CMV) seropositivity in Iranian patients suffering from MS compared to controls. Methodology: This case control study was conducted in Isfahan. Using ELISA method, IgM and IgG antibodies to Cytomegalovirus (CMV) in MS patients and age and sex matched controls were detected. CMV IgM titer higher than 25 and CMV IgG titer higher than 0.6 were regarded as seropositive according to laboratory Kit. Results: Total 82 MS patients (64 females and 18 males) and 38 controls (29 females and 9 males) were included (P > 0.05). The median [IQR] titer of CMV IgM in MS group was 3.25[2.97-5.1] versus 3.5[2.5-5.7] in control group (p = 0.66); likewise, the median [IQR] titer of CMV IgG in MS patients was 15.15 [8.1-22.5] versus 7.75[5.3-22] in control group (p = 0.011). According clinical course median of IgG was 14.94[7.3-24] in RRMS and 20.0[9.8-22] in SPMS and median of IgM was 4.0[2.9-6.5] and 3.0[2.7-4.0] respectively. Conclusion: Seropositivity of CMV was higher in MS patients than controls, therefore, it may have a possible role in MS pathogenesis, but further studies are needed to evaluate this result.