[Infectious agents in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis].

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) of a still unknown etiology. Genetic factors, environmental agents and an autoimmune response may play an important role in the pathogenesis of MS. In the paper the current opinion on the role of infectious agents in the pathogenesis of MS is presented. The results of epidemiological and serological studies are discussed as well as the results of viral isolation attempts and the search for virus structures in the CNS of MS patients. The most important findings in the field e.g. a potential role of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and bacteria Chlamydia pneumoniae in MS are presented. Postulated mechanisms of virus-induced demyelination are also described.