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Allergy and multiple sclerosis: a population-based case-control study

Neuroimmunology and Neuromuscular Disorders Unit, Neurological Institute Foundation IRCCS Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy rpedottie{at}istituto-besta.it

M Farinotti

Neuroepidemiology Unit, Neurological Institute Foundation IRCCS Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy

C Falcone

Neuroepidemiology Unit, Neurological Institute Foundation IRCCS Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy

L Borgonovo

Unit of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Niguarda Ca’Granda Hospital, Milan, Italy

P Confalonieri

Neuroimmunology and Neuromuscular Disorders Unit, Neurological Institute Foundation IRCCS Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy

A Campanella

Neuroimmunology and Neuromuscular Disorders Unit, Neurological Institute Foundation IRCCS Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy

R Mantegazza

Neuroimmunology and Neuromuscular Disorders Unit, Neurological Institute Foundation IRCCS Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy

E Pastorello

Unit of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Niguarda Ca’Granda Hospital, Milan, Italy

G Filippini

Neuroepidemiology Unit, Neurological Institute Foundation IRCCS Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy

Background

Epidemiological studies on the association between allergic disorders, T-helper type 2 (Th2) mediated, and multiple sclerosis (MS), a T-helper type 1 (Th1)/Th17-mediated disease, provided conflicting results.

Objective

The aim of this study was to further examine the association between allergic disorders and MS.

Methods

The association between MS and previous medical history of any type of allergy has been investigated in a population-based case-control study conducted in Northern Italy, based on telephone interviews to 423 cases and 643 population controls (refusal rates 3.7% and 9.4%, respectively). Controls were a random sample of the general population.

Results

A history of atopic allergies seems to confer protection against MS (odds ratio [OR], 0.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.38–0.89; P = 0.012). In particular, the prevalence of allergic asthma was 4.9% in people with MS and 12% in control subjects (OR = 0.38; 95% CI 0.22–0.66, P < 0.01). No association was found between MS and nonatopic allergies.

Conclusions

Our findings are confirmatory of the putative protective effect of Th2-mediated disorders on Th1 immune responses associated with MS. A unifying theory on the mechanisms by which previous history of atopic allergies may modify the risk of MS is still lacking.

Key Words: allergy • atopy • case-control study • immunology • multiple sclerosis • risk factors

Multiple Sclerosis, Vol. 15, No. 8, 899-906 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1352458509106211


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