A population-based case–control study on viral infections and vaccinations and subsequent multiple sclerosis risk

The objective of this study was to determine whether patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are more likely to have other autoimmune disorders particularly prior to the diagnosis of MS. We conducted a population-based case—control study of patients enrolled in the Northern California Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program. Electronic clinical records through 2005 were used to ascertain incident and prevalent MS cases and identify the presence and timing of 44 other diagnoses. Controls were matched 5:1 for gender, age, and Kaiser membership characteristics. We identified 5296 MS cases (including 924 diagnosed between 2001 and 2004) and 26,478 matched controls. Prior to MS diagnosis, cases were more likely than controls to have uveitis (OR = 3.2, 95%; CI 1.7—5.7), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD, OR = 1.7; 95%CI 1.2—2.5), and Bell’s palsy (OR = 3.2; 95%CI 1.2—8.3). Cases were also more likely to develop Guillain— Barré syndrome (GBS, OR = 5.0; 95%CI 1.6—15.4) and bullous pemphigoid (OR = 6.7; 95%CI 1.5—29.9). Cases were not more likely than controls to have or to develop rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or thyroiditis. MS may share environmental triggers, genetic susceptibilities and/or alterations in immune homeostasis with IBD and uveitis, but not with other autoimmune disorders.

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Breastfeeding is associated with lower risk for multiple sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1177/1352458512459683 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 19 (5) ◽

pp. 553-558 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Silja Conradi ◽

Uwe Malzahn ◽

Friedemann Paul ◽

Sabine Quill ◽

Lutz Harms ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Autoimmune Diseases ◽

Lower Risk ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Multivariable Analysis ◽

Population Based ◽

Case Control ◽

Multivariable Logistic Regression Analysis ◽

Protective Effects ◽

Control Study

Background:Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease with known genetic and environmental susceptibility factors. Breastfeeding has been shown to be protective in other autoimmune diseases.Objective:This case-control study analyzed the association of breastfeeding in infancy on the risk of developing MS.Methods:A case-control study was performed in Berlin of 245 MS patients and 296 population-based controls, who completed a standardized questionnaire on their history and duration of breastfeeding in infancy and demographic characteristics. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the association between breastfeeding and MS. The multivariate model was adjusted for age, gender, number of older siblings, number of inhabitants in place of domicile between ages 0 and 6 (categorized in each case), and daycare attendance between ages 0 and 3.Results:In multivariable analysis, breastfeeding showed an independent association with MS (adjusted OR 0.58; p = 0.028). However, with no breastfeeding as reference, the protective effect only emerges after four months of breastfeeding (multivariable analysis for ≤ four months adjusted OR 0.87; p = 0.614 and for > four months OR 0.51; p = 0.016).Conclusion:The results of this case-control study support the hypothesis that breastfeeding is associated with a lower risk of MS. These results are in line with findings of previous studies on other autoimmune diseases, in which breastfeeding was shown to have protective effects.

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