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Multiple sclerosis and childhood infections

From the Neuroepidemiology and Genetics Unit, Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota and the Veterans Administration Hospital, Minneapolis, Minnesota (Dr. Alter), and the Instytut Psycho-neurologiczny, Warsaw, Poland (Dr. Cendrowski).

There is evidence that some event in childhood may determine risk of multiple sclerosis: Elevated titers to measles and other childhood infections suggest a childhood infection. Therefore, childhood infections reported by 30 patients with multiple sclerosis and matched controls were compared. Patients reported a childhood infection between 5 and 9 years (not simply exposure to an infection) more often than controls. The mean age of measles peaked somewhat later (age 7) in patients than in controls (age 4); this difference approached statistical significance (p < 0.1). Evidence that host response to measles is age-dependent was reviewed. It was proposed that age of measles (rather than the fact of infection) may influence the risk of developing multiple sclerosis.

Requests for reprints should be addressed to Dr. Alter, Chief, Neurology Service, Veterans Administration Hospital, 54th Street and 48th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55417.

This study was supported in part by the Minneapolis Veterans Administration Hospital and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (Grant No. 683B4).

Received for publication August 18, 1975.

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