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. 2025 Jan;31(1):117-120.
doi: 10.1177/13524585241298065. Epub 2024 Dec 13.

Epstein-Barr virus infection in patients with MOGAD

Giorgia T Maniscalco  1   2 , Alessandro Dinoto  3 , Maria C Foglia  4 , Maria E Di Battista  1   2 , Ornella Moreggia  2 , Daniele Di Giulio Cesare  2 , Michela Williams  5   6 , Francesca W Rossi  5   6 , Sara Carta  3 , Vanessa Chiodega  3 , Sergio Ferrari  3 , Assunta Viola  7 , Amato de Paulis  5   6 , Vincenzo Andreone  1 , Sara Mariotto  3
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Epstein-Barr virus infection in patients with MOGAD

Giorgia T Maniscalco et al. Mult Scler. 2025 Jan.

Abstract

Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection increases the risk of having multiple sclerosis (MS). Data on adults with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) are lacking.

Objective: To compare EBV serological status in MOGAD versus MS.

Methods: We measured antibodies to Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA-1) and viral capsid antigen (VCA) antigens in 129 patients (MS = 74, MOGAD = 55) by chemiluminescence immunoassays.

Results: VCA-IgG were detected in 97.3% of MS and 96.4% of MOGAD cases, while EBNA-1-IgG in 97.3% of MS and 80% of MOGAD (p = 0.001). EBNA-1 (p < 0.001) and VCA (p = 0.03) antibodies levels were higher in MS patients.

Conclusion: EBV antibodies are higher in MS versus MOGAD, suggesting a possible different role of EBV in the pathogenesis of the two conditions.

Keywords: EBNA-1; EBV; Epstein-Barr virus; MOG; MOGAD; VCA; myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein; serology.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: S.M. received speaker honoraria from Horizon, UCB, Alexion, Novartis, Biogen, and Sanofy. G.T.M. received speaker honoraria Alexion, Novartis, Biogen, Horizon, Roche, Merk, Janssen, and Johnson. All other authors do not have disclosures.

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