Biological–Diagnostic Dissociation in Multiple Sclerosis: Early EBV ‐Associated Intrathecal Immune Activity

Key Result

EBV-associated intrathecal immune activity may precede radiological abnormalities and clinical multiple sclerosis, indicating a preclinical phase of early CNS immune activation.

Key Points

• To investigate whether EBV-associated intrathecal immune activity occurs before clinical manifestations and radiological signs of multiple sclerosis.
• Analyzed immune activity specifically related to EBV in the central nervous system (CNS).
• Evaluated the timing of immune activation relative to the onset of clinical and imaging changes in multiple sclerosis.
• EBV-associated immune activity was detected before any visible radiological changes in multiple sclerosis.
• Compartmentalized CNS immune activation indicates a possible preclinical phase of MS evolution.