Helicobacter pylori Infection in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that targets the central nervous system. Various studies have shown that several factors influence this disease’s occurrence and prevent its progress. Multiple studies have shown that several factors affect this disease’s occurrence and prevent its progress. Helicobacter pylori can be mentioned among these factors. This study was conducted to determine Helicobacter pylori infection in MS patients and healthy individuals.

This case-control study was conducted on 100 patients with MS (mean age: 36.99±9.87 years) and 100 healthy subjects (mean age: 38.05±11.38 years) in Golestan province, north of Iran during 2021. The case group included eighty relapsing-remitting cases and twenty secondary progressive cases. Blood samples were taken from both groups, and after separating the serum using the ELISA test, anti-Helicobacter pylori antibody (IgG) was detected by determining the antibody titer.

Helicobacter pylori IgG in the MS and control groups was 21% and 44%, respectively (P<0.05). The mean concentration of IgG in the case group was significantly lower than the control group (13.48±10.83 versus 19.78±16.14 AU/ml). The percentage of positive cases of IgG antibody against Helicobacter pylori in the relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive group of patients with MS was determined as 21.2% and 20%, respectively, and the difference between these two groups was not statistically significant.

The history of Helicobacter pylori infection is less than two times in patients with MS compared to healthy people probably indicate the protective role of this bacterium against this disease.