Infection and multiple sclerosis—a new hypothesis?
- Institute for Immunology & Allergy Research, Westmead Millennium Institute, Westmead Campus, University of Sydney, Westmead NSW 2145, Australia; stewartg@westgate.wh.usyd.edu.au
Hypothesis of a sexually transmitted environmental component should be treated with care
There is general agreement that multiple sclerosis is the result of both environmental and genetic factors. In the paper by Hawkes1 (this issue, pp 439–43) a hypothesis is proposed that the environmental component is an infectious agent, transmitted sexually. His thesis is based on a new look at old data; it has not been stimulated by recent discovery.
Evidence for an environmental factor in multiple sclerosis has come from studies of migrating populations, small epidemics and variation of prevalence with latitude. Many of these studies are cited by Hawkes. The possibility …
