New Information on the Connection Between EBV and MS
New
studies are showing that patients with high levels of the Epstein Barr Virus
are very likely to get Multiple Sclerosis later on in life.
Researchers have found that the Epstein Barr Virus is present in patients with Multiple Sclerosis. It is also known that the virus may further contribute to some cancers such as Hodgkins Lymphoma. But until now the researchers did not know how the virus was linked to Multiple Sclerosis.
Epstein Barr Virus, which causes such problems as muscle weakness, balance and vision problems, is a direct result of the immune system attacking the body's nervous system.
It should be noted that not everyone who gets EBV will get Multiple Sclerosis. But with many studies underway, it has shown that the majority of people with MS have Epstein Barr. With this new study, more and more doctors will be directing their therapies toward attacking the immune system.
Infections are thought to trigger the disease, and Epstein-Barr virus is one of the leading candidate triggers," said first author Jan Lunemann, a neurologist and immunologist at The Rockefeller University in New York. "Epstein-Barr virus does not cause MS, but the immune response to this virus is different in MS patients, and our hypothesis is that the altered immune response contributes to the development and progression of the disease."
According to Medical News Today, they stated that the virus itself usually stays the whole life in the immune system B cells and the virus-specific T cells keep the virus under control. As the B cells divide, the Epstein Barr Virus leaves ENVA1 and further implants its own DNA into the new cells. For individuals with MS this targeting of the EBNA1 is crucial.
What is Epstein Barr Virus
Infectious Mononucleosis is caused by the the Epstein Barr Virus and many refer to Epstein Barr as "mono" This disease is abbreviated often as "EBV." There are no medical studies proving it can be cured, but many internet sites claiming to have a "supposed cure."
Symptoms of Epstein Barr Virus
- Sore throat is first sign - look for it to last a week or more.
- Fever.
- Constant fatigue and very weak.
- Sore aching body and muscles.
- Swollen lymph glands.
The Best Way to Alleviate EBV
The best way to alleviate the symptoms of EBV is with proper diet, plenty of sleep and lots of natural vitamins and supplementation. The one thing that does hold promise is olive leaf. Olive leaf is a natural antibiotic and has been used for centuries to treat many ailments including the common cold and flu.
Christian Münz, a Rockefeller University researcher who specializes in EBV-specific immune responses stated that: The next step will be to determine how these over-reactive immune cells trigger the destruction of the myelin sheathing that insulates nerve cells. "The broadened response of the T cells could lead them to recognize and attack cells they aren't supposed to, like brain cells," said Münz. This process, called molecular mimicry, is seen in other autoimmune disorders, such as lupus.
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