Fascinating research. I found the normalization of IGA following Ocrevus treatment quite noteworthy. Any thoughts?
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It’s great to observe Ocrevus having a positive impact on the gut flora. Appreciate the post!
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Did the gut bacteria shift contribute to the onset of MS, or was the change in the microbiome a result of having untreated MS?
This is truly compelling news. Here is the landmark study that connects EBV with MS for some extra context: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abj8222. Personally, I suffered from a severe case of mononucleosis at 17, and—consistent with the study’s findings—my initial MS symptoms appeared 8 years later. I strongly believe there should be more rigorous tracking of individuals who have had Mono for future symptoms. My experience mirrored the study’s timeline perfectly, but back in 1990, I was incorrectly diagnosed with fibromyalgia, which led me to ignore minor issues for three decades. My official MS diagnosis only came 3.5 years ago, though my scans show much older damage. Doctors believe my first flare-up was actually 35 years ago in 1990. I’m still mobile at 60, but a lot of this could have been avoided. We need to persuade the medical field and insurers of the importance of early screenings beyond just MRIs, which often happen too late.
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This is quite intriguing. Given that B cells aren’t the ones producing IgA, I’m curious why reducing them impacts the gut bacteria levels. If EBV alters how these B cells behave, how does that influence IgA levels if they aren’t the source? I wouldn’t necessarily claim gut bacteria causes MS; it seems more like a consequence. It’s likely a domino effect occurring after the immune system has been malfunctioning for a while. That said, gut flora could potentially trigger relapses once you have MS, so it’s definitely worth considering. Even if it isn’t the primary cause, it remains highly relevant for managing the condition.
The connection between gut health and immunity has been established for a while, so it makes sense that MS is involved. It’s encouraging to see more research here; perhaps it will prompt those who dismiss the role of diet in MS to think again.
I assume this applies to any B-cell depleting therapy, not just Ocrevus?
A sample size of 43 people is barely enough for a legitimate study.
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Intriguing—does a deficiency in IgA-coated microbes lead to digestive issues? The article didn’t seem to mention that. I dealt with chronic stomach problems for ten years before I was diagnosed.
So interesting! My gut health has always been poor. While in grad school, I once went 9 weeks without a bowel movement. I used to believe only beer helped. My mother relied on laxatives every day. I can certainly see how the microbiome plays a role!
It’s interesting because I was diagnosed with lymphocytic colitis, a rare type of inflammation. It affects the outer lining of the intestine and doesn’t cause the same damage as other forms, but it definitely makes you feel awful (pun intended). Once I began MS therapy, a follow-up colonoscopy showed the colitis had cleared up. That’s pretty cool.