http://repub.eur.nl/res/aut/6494/ List of Publications en http://repub.eur.nl/static-eur/img/logo.png http://repub.eur.nl http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/8433/ 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z OBJECTIVES: To study in relapsing-remitting (RR) multiple sclerosis (MS) whether exacerbations and brain activity as measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are associated with plasma levels of anti-Epstein Barr (EBV) antibodies and EBV DNA. METHODS: This was a prospective study with 73 RR MS patients followed for an average of 1.7 years with frequent neurological examination and blood sampling. Antibodies to various EBV proteins were measured by ELISA and plasma EBV DNA was measured by PCR. RESULTS: All MS patients had IgG antibodies to EBV (viral capsid antigen (VCA) and/or EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA)), irrespective whether samples were taken at stable disease or exacerbation. A significantly elevated percentage of the patients (48%) had antibodies against EBV antigens (early antigen, EA) that indicate active viral replication, compared with the age matched healthy controls (25%). Antibodies against a control herpesvirus, cytomegalovirus, were similar between the two groups. The percentage of EA positive individuals and EA titres did not differ between stable disease or exacerbation. Anti-VCA IgM was positive in three cases, unrelated to disease activity. Using a highly sensitive PCR on 51 samples taken at exacerbation visits, only three patients were found to have one timepoint with viraemia, and this viraemia was unrelated to disease activity. Of special note was the fact that anti-EA seropositive patients remained seropositive during follow up, with stable titres over time. We hypothesised that these patients may constitute a subgroup with higher disease activity, due to the triggering effect of a chronic attempt of the virus to reactivate. The EA positive group did not differ from the EA negative with respect to clinical disease activity or other characteristics. However, in the EA positive group, analysis with gadolinium enhanced MRI indicated more MRI disease activity. CONCLUSIONS: There was no evidence for increased clinical disease activity in the subgroup of MS patients with serological signs of EBV reactivation. However, the observation that chronic EBV reactivation may be associated with increased inflammatory activity as assessed by gadolinium enhanced MRI lesions should be reproduced in a larger and independent dataset. http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/8276/ 2003-01-01T00:00:00Z OBJECTIVE: To study the relation between self reported stressful life events not related to multiple sclerosis and the occurrence of exacerbations in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. DESIGN: Longitudinal, prospective cohort study. SETTING: Outpatient clinic of department of neurology in the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: Patients aged 18-55 with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, who could walk with a cane or better (score of 0-6.0 on the expanded disability status scale), and had had at least two exacerbations in 24 months before inclusion in the study. Patients with other serious conditions were excluded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The risk of increased disease activity as measured by the occurrence of exacerbations after weeks with stressful events. RESULTS: Seventy out of 73 included patients (96%) reported at least one stressful event. In total, 457 stressful life events were reported that were not related to multiple sclerosis. Average follow up time was 1.4 years. Throughout the study, 134 exacerbations occurred in 56 patients and 136 infections occurred in 57 patients. Cox regression analysis with time dependent variables showed that stress was associated with a doubling of the exacerbation rate (relative risk 2.2, 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 4.0, P = 0.014) during the subsequent four weeks. Infections were associated with a threefold increase in the risk of exacerbation, but this effect was found to be independent of experienced stress. CONCLUSION: Stressful events were associated with increased exacerbations in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. This association was independent of the triggering effect of infections on exacerbations of multiple sclerosis. http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/9887/ 2002-01-01T00:00:00Z One of the characteristics of multiple sclerosis is the unpredictable occurrence of exacerbations and remissions. These fluctuations in disease activity are related to alterations in (auto-)immune activity. Exacerbations lead to short-term morbidity, but may also influence long-term disability. This longitudinal study in 73 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis assessed the contribution of systemic infections to the natural course of exacerbations. In addition, we analysed whether infections lead to an increase in the number of gadolinium-enhancing lesions. A total of 167 infections and 145 exacerbations were observed during 6466 patient weeks. During a predefined at-risk period (ARP) of 2 weeks before until 5 weeks after the onset of a clinical infection (predominantly upper airway infections), there was an increased risk of exacerbations (rate ratio 2.1), which is in accordance with previous studies. Exacerbations with onset during the ARP led more frequently to sustained deficit [increase of > or =1 Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) point or > or =0.5 above EDSS 5.5 for >3 months] than exacerbations with onset outside the ARP, with a rate ratio of 3.8. Minor and major exacerbations were equally distributed between the ARP and non-ARP onset groups. ARP exacerbations were associated with significantly higher plasma levels of the inflammatory marker soluble intracellular adhesion molecule 1 than non-ARP exacerbations, indicating relatively enhanced immune activation during ARP relapses. Three serial MRI scans were performed after the onset of an infection over a 6-week period. There was no difference in the number of gadolinium-enhancing lesions between the three time points. In conclusion, exacerbations in the context of a systemic infection lead to more sustained damage than other exacerbations. There is no indication that this effect occurs through enhanced opening of the blood-brain barrier. http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/9687/ 2001-01-01T00:00:00Z Multiple sclerosis is believed to result from a CD4+ T-cell response against myelin antigens. Peptidoglycan, a major component of the Gram-positive bacterial cell wall, is a functional lipopolysaccharide analogue with potent proinflammatory properties and is conceivably a mediator of sterile inflammation. Here we demonstrate that peptidoglycan is present within antigen-presenting cells in the brain of multiple sclerosis patients. These cells have macrophage and dendritic cell characteristics, and are immunocompetent as evidenced by co-expression of inflammatory cytokines and co-stimulatory molecules. In addition, intrathecal plasma cells specific for peptidoglycan are present in multiple sclerosis brain tissue, and antibodies binding peptidoglycan are present in CSF during active disease. Peptidoglycan may thus contribute to T- and B-cell activity during brain inflammation without a requirement for local bacterial replication.