[The role of viral antibodies in the pathogenesis of degenerative and demyelinating diseases].

Serologic investigations were carried on samples of sera and cerebrospinal fluid from patients aged between 6 and 67 years with degenerative and demyelinating disease with the aim of determining the pathogenetic role of viruses in these disorders. Increased titers of complement fixation antibodies against the measles virus were detected in patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis and multiple sclerosis, whereas high titers of complement fixation antibodies against Herpes Simplex Virus Type I were found in Parkinsonian cases. Demonstration of high titers of heterophil antibodies in patients with Parkinson's disease seemed to be a significant contribution to this matter. Although HSV type I and heterophil antibodies were high in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, small number of samples hampered satisfactory interpretation.