The relation of multiple sclerosis with allergy and atopy: a case control study

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Allergy are believed to up regulate T helper cell type 1 (Th1) and T helper cell type 2 (Th2)  responses, respectively. It has been shown that disequilibrium in the ratio of Th1/Th2 activities may increase frequency of one disease and decrease the frequency of the other. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation of MS with allergy and atopy in new diagnosed MS patients. This case-control study was conducted on 40 new diagnosed MS patients and the same number of normal controls. All of the patients were diagnosed (according to McDonald criteria) at most 2 years prior to the study. Demographic data and clinical characteristics of both groups were recorded in a questionnaire. The total IgE and allergen specific IgE in the serum were measured in all the cases. Forty MS patients (female/male: 4.71) with mean age of 30.55±9.5 years and 40 healthy controls entered in this study. History of allergy was observed in 20(50%) of MS patients (including 15 (37.5%) rhinitis, 6 (15%) conjunctivitis, 3 (7.5%) urticaria and eczema, 1 (2.5%) asthma), and 20 (50%) of the controls (including 8 (20%) rhinitis, 4 (10%) conjunctivitis, 7 (17.5%) urticaria and eczema, 1 (2.5%) asthma). The differences between the two groups were not statistically significant. Neither the serum total IgE, nor the frequency of specific IgE against Weed mix, Grass Mix, Tree mix1, Tree mix 2, Dermatophagoides Farinae, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Epidermal and animal proteins mix differed statistically between the two groups. There was also no significant relationship between MS clinical manifestations and allergy prevalence and also between MS and atopy. The results of this study as some other similar studies showed the same prevalence of allergy in MS patients and controls and also demonstrated no relation between MS and atopy.