Vaccinations no Risk Factor for MS

    

    

Doctors newspaper online, 31.07.2019

    

        
        
        

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Multiple Sclerosis

MUNICH. As a known risk factor for multiple sclerosis (MS), vaccinations are also discussed. New data from scientists at the Technische Universität München (TUM) again oppose such a connection ( Neurology 2019; online July 30 ).

The research team led by Professor Bernhard Hemmer has evaluated a large population-representative dataset of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians of Bavaria of more than 200,000 persons, including more than 12,000 MS sufferers, TUM reports. It was found that individuals receiving fewer vaccinations five years prior to a diagnosis of MS than those who did not develop MS.

This was the case for the investigated vaccines against pneumococci, meningococci, mumps, measles, rubella and chickenpox, the human papilloma virus (HPV), hepatitis A and B, TBE and influenza. In the latter three, the effect was particularly pronounced: the control group was vaccinated much more frequently than the later MS patients.

"We do not know the causes yet. It may take people long before their diagnosis, the disease and therefore renounce additional burden on the immune system. Such effects are also reflected in our data. Or the vaccine has a protective effect and keeps the immune system from attacking the nervous system.

No connection with first MS pushes

Ultimately, given the large amount of data, we can clearly state that there is no indication that the likelihood of MS disease or the onset of a first MS shock from vaccination is immediate. Alexander Hapfelmeier, first author of the study, quoted in the TUM communication.

The researchers also wanted to rule out that the results could be a fundamental effect of chronic diseases. They therefore additionally evaluated the data of two further patient groups: people with Crohn's disease and psoriasis. The vaccinations had also been recorded five years before their diagnosis.

These patients were vaccinated just as often as the healthy control group. "The results are not solely due to a chronic disease, but an MS-specific behavior," says Hemmer and adds: "We also know from other studies that MS sufferers are conspicuous in their behavior and medical history long before diagnosis. For example, they often suffer from mental illness and rarely have children.

All this makes it clear that MS is there long before the neurological symptoms. We need to find suitable markers to diagnose earlier. We see that as one of our most important tasks. " (eb)

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