Helicobacter pylori infection as a protective factor against multiple sclerosis risk in females

M.J.F. Pedrini; A. Seewann; K.A. Bennett; A.J.T. Wood; I. James; J. Burton; B.J. Marshall; W.M. Carroll; A.G. Kermode

doi:10.1136/jnnp-2014-309495

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Helicobacter pylori infection as a protective factor against multiple sclerosis risk in females

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Helicobacter pylori infection as a protective factor against multiple sclerosis risk in females

M.J.F. Pedrini, A. Seewann, K.A. Bennett, A.J.T. Wood, I. James, J. Burton, B.J. Marshall, W.M. Carroll and A.G. Kermode

Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, Vol.86(6), pp.603-607

2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp-2014-309495

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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 Amsterdam
K.A. Bennett (Author/Creator) - The University of Western Australia
A.J.T. Wood (Author/Creator) - The University of Western Australia
I. James (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
J. Burton (Author/Creator) - The University of Western Australia
B.J. Marshall (Author/Creator) - The University of Western Australia
W.M. Carroll (Author/Creator) - The University of Western Australia
A.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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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