Viral Triggers

Posted by Elaine Moore Oct 20, 2007

Autoimmune diseases occur as a result of genetic influences, immune system malfunction, hormonal regulation and environmental factors. Environmental factors known to trigger autoimmune diseases include stress and infectious agents, particularly Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV).

In one recent study conducted at the Sheba Medical Center in Tel-Hashomer, Israel, serum samples from 1595 patients representing 23 different autoimmune diseases were screened for evidence of prior infection with Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus.

Study Results

Results confirm prior studies showing an association between EBV and multiple autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), antiphospholipid syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, pemphigus vulgaris, giant cell arteritis, Wegener’s granulomatosis, and polyarteritis nodosa. In addition, results showed an association between EBV and polymyositis.

Furthermore, elevated titers of cytomegalovirus antibodies were seen in a number of patients with autoimmune diseases, particularly systemic lupus erythematosus. However, because CMV is fairly prevalent, more studies are needed before this association can be considered conclusive.

Also noteworthy, both CMV and EMV have previously been demonstrated in the synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and in the serum of patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Resource:

Barzilai O, Sherer Y, Ram M, Izhaky D, Anaya JM and Shoenfeld Y, Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus in autoimmune diseases: are they truly notorious? A preliminary report, Annals of the New York Academy of Science, June 2007; 1108: 567-577.

Elaine Moore, Autoimmune Diseases and Their Environmental Triggers, Jefferson, NC: McFarland and Company, 2002.