In this video, Prof. Mäurer explores the question of whether there is a connection between HIV and Multiple Sclerosis, or whether HIV drugs can be used to treat Multiple Sclerosis.
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Although it is a proven fact that the incidence of MS is slightly lower among HIV patients than in the general population, this can be explained by the immune suppression caused by HIV in the patients. Treating Multiple Sclerosis with HIV drugs lacks any causality. MS is not a viral disease. Although the Epstein-Barr virus plays a role in its development (see also the MS-Docblog series on Epstein-Barr), HIV drugs suppress the HIV virus by rewriting the transcription of RNA into DNA. This neither helps against Epstein-Barr nor against Multiple Sclerosis.
If MS is not a viral disease, why does EBV play a role? In addition to the EBV infection, there must be other factors to trigger MS, such as genetic ones. Therefore, the desire for a vaccine is understandable. And it is also justified by the fact that an infectious mononucleosis in adolescence as well as the development of certain tumors and autoimmune diseases could be prevented.
Research is being conducted on this, with the Epstein-Barr virus presenting science with special challenges. It exists in two phases: latent and lytic. A vaccine would have to work against both. The relatively new mRNA technology might be able to help here.
Prof. Mathias Mäurer advises MS patients to pay attention to this. HIV and drugs against HIV are not relevant for Multiple Sclerosis. The question of whether there is a connection between HIV and Multiple Sclerosis, or whether HIV drugs can be used to treat Multiple Sclerosis, can therefore be answered with no.
