[Etiology of multiple sclerosis]

Rev Prat. 1991 Sep 15;41(20):1888-92.
[Article in French]

Abstract

The risk of developing Multiple Sclerosis is under the combined influence of environmental and endogenous factors, as shown by epidemiological and genetic studies. Immunological abnormalities are a salient feature of the disease but their myelinotoxic effect is still to be demonstrated. The pathogenesis of the disease remains unknown. The auto-immune theory as well as the infectious theory are arguable but they may, also, be both valid. Multiple sclerosis could be a post-infectious auto-immune disease, "final common way" of common childhood infections. Anyway, no infectious agent is demonstrable inside the central nervous system at the overt disease stage.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Multiple Sclerosis / etiology*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / immunology
  • Multiple Sclerosis / microbiology
  • Risk Factors