Multiple sclerosis risk raised after shingles
8 July 2011
Having an episode of shingles - herpes zoster - has been linked to an increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS).
In a population-based study, Taiwan researchers compared 300,000 patients who had herpes zoster with nearly one million control subjects who were selected at random (J Infect Dis 2011; 204: 188-92).
Compared with controls, those with a history of herpes zoster had a nearly fourfold increased risk of an MS diagnosis within a year of the zoster episode. The mean time from an episode of herpes zoster to MS developing was 104 days. There was limited data to show whether antiviral medicines could reduce the risk of nerve and brain complications, and further research was needed, the authors said.
Last Reviewed: 08 July 2011
- 1. Kang JH, Sheu JJ, Kao S, Lin HC. Increased risk of multiple sclerosis following herpes zoster: a nationwide, population-based study. J Infect Dis 2011; 204: 188-92. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jir239 [Epub 2011 Jun 7]. http://jid.oxfordjournals.org/content/204/2/188.long (accessed Jul 2011).
2. Corona T, Flores J. Herpes zoster and multiple sclerosis [editorial]. J Infect Dis 2011; 204: 177-8. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jir243. [Epub 2011 Jun 7]. http://jid.oxfordjournals.org/content/204/2/177.full (accessed Jul 2011).
