Researchers have identified a breakthrough blood biomarker to distinguish Multiple Sclerosis from similar neurological disorders. A multicenter study across Austria, Germany, and the United States analyzed over four thousand samples. Investigators focused on Epstein-Barr virus antibodies, specifically EBNA-1 peptides.
Results indicate ninety-six percent of MS patients maintained high antibody levels over two years. In contrast, fewer than eighteen percent of patients with MOGAD or NMOSD showed the same pattern. This longitudinal testing offers a critical tool for diagnosing ambiguous cases, particularly where standard antibody tests fail.
The findings reinforce the link between EBV and Multiple Sclerosis, potentially accelerating accurate treatment pathways. Published in JAMA Neurology.