Search for cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus genetic information in multiple sclerosis.

Human cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus DNA probes were labeled in vitro and hybridized to the DNA extracted from brains of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) to detect the presence of genetic information related to these viruses. We were unable to detect any virus-related genetic information complementary to these probes. These results indicate that the two viruses are not involved in MS, or else the genetic information, if present, is below the sensitivity of detection of this hybridization technique.