The enigma of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) persists. Experience with electrical stimulation of the spinal cord indicates that the changed function in the voluntary nervous system is due to invocation of appropriate central inhibition. The demonstration of similar phenomena by the administration of cholinesterase reactivators suggests that a functional defect in the cholinergic system may be present centrally in MS. The identification of measles viral antigen in the jejunum of patients with Multiple Sclerosis and the documentation of changes in the sialoglycoprotein, pseudocholinesterase, in the jejunum and plaques from patients with MS provides a basis for a hypothesis to explain the pathogenesis of this chronic disease. It is suggested that MS results from a measles virus induced auto-sensitization to pseudocholinesterase.
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