Journal article
Helicobacter pylori infection as a protective factor against multiple sclerosis risk in females
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, Vol.86(6), pp.603-607
2015
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
In recent years, a relationship between Helicobacter pylori and many disease conditions has been reported, however, studies in its relationship with multiple sclerosis (MS) have had contradictory results.
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the association between the H. pylori infection and MS.
METHODS:
550 patients with MS were included in the study and were matched by gender and year of birth to 299 controls. Patients were assessed for clinical and demographic parameters. An enzyme immunoassay was used to detect the presence of specific IgG antibodies against H. pylori in the serum sample of both groups.
RESULTS:
H. pylori seropositivity was found to be lower in the patients with MS than in controls (16% vs 21%) with the decrease pertaining to females (14% vs 22%, p=0.027) but not males (19% vs 20%, p=1.0). When adjusted for age at onset, year of birth and disease duration, H. pylori seropositive females presented with a lower disability score than seronegative females (p=0.049), while among males the reverse was true (p=0.025). There was no significant association between H. pylori seropositivity and relapse rate.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our results could reflect a protective role of H. pylori in the disease development. However, it may be that H. pylori infection is a surrogate marker for the 'hygiene hypothesis', a theory which postulates that early life infections are essential to prime the immune system and thus prevent allergic and autoimmune conditions later in life. The fact that the association between H. pylori seropositivity and MS risk was seen almost exclusively in females requires further investigation.
Details
- Title
- Helicobacter pylori infection as a protective factor against multiple sclerosis risk in females
- Authors/Creators
- M.J.F. Pedrini (Author/Creator)A. Seewann (Author/Creator) - Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamK.A. Bennett (Author/Creator) - The University of Western AustraliaA.J.T. Wood (Author/Creator) - The University of Western AustraliaI. James (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityJ. Burton (Author/Creator) - The University of Western AustraliaB.J. Marshall (Author/Creator) - The University of Western AustraliaW.M. Carroll (Author/Creator) - The University of Western AustraliaA.G. Kermode (Author/Creator) - The University of Western Australia
- Publication Details
- Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, Vol.86(6), pp.603-607
- Publisher
- BMJ Publishing Group
- Identifiers
- 991005542613907891
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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Source: InCites
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.95 Gastrointestinal & Esophageal Diseases
- 1.95.387 Helicobacter Pylori
- Web Of Science research areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Psychiatry
- Surgery
- ESI research areas
- Clinical Medicine