Serum Test in Pregnancy May Reveal Child’s MS Risk

Individuals whose mothers had high viral capsid antigen immunoglobulin G (IgG) during pregnancy are at an increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new study.

The researchers reached this conclusion after analyzing the serum samples of more than 800,000 pregnant women. The samples had been collected since 1983, as part of the Finnish Maternity Cohort.

IF YOU LIKE THIS, READ MORE...

AAN Updates Guidelines on Vaccinations in Patients With MS

5 Questions About New MS Disease-Modifying Therapies

By studying hospital and prescription registries, the researchers identified cases of MS among the individuals born between 1983 and 1991. In all, 176 cases were matched to up to 3 controls (n = 326) on region and dates of birth, sample collection, and mother's birth.

The impact of the offspring’s gender and gestational age at sample collection, as well as the maternal serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D and cotinine levels, had on MS risk were also taken into account.

The researchers performed similar analyses among 1049 women with MS and 1867 matched controls in the Finnish Maternity Cohort.

The researchers determined that there was an association between maternal viral capsid antigen IgG levels during pregnancy and an increased risk of MS among offspring. However, there were no associations between the offspring’s risk of MS and maternal Epstein–Barr virus nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA‐1), diffuse early antigen, or cytomegalovirus IgG levels.

Compared with the women in the Finnish Maternity Cohort who were in the lowest quintile of EBNA‐1 IgG levels, the women in the cohort who were in the highest quintile had a 3‐fold higher risk of MS.

According to the researchers, 25‐hydroxyvitamin D did not alter the associations. 

“Offspring of mothers with high viral capsid antigen IgG during pregnancy appear to have an increased risk of MS,” the researchers concluded.  “The increase in MS risk among women with elevated prediagnostic EBNA‐1 IgG levels is consistent with previous results.” 

—Colleen Murphy

Reference:

Munger KL, Hongell K, Cortese M, et al. Epstein-barr virus and multiple sclerosis risk in the Finnish maternity cohort. Ann Neurol. 2019;86(3):436-442. doi:10.1002/ana.25532.