Helicobacter pylori antibodies and multiple sclerosis: a single-center study and a short review of the literature

Background Multiple sclerosis is an immune-mediated disease which has been associated to a great variety of mechanisms that could influence its pathogenesis. Numerous reports in the medical literature suggest that Helicobacter pylori may be a mediator of the disease. However, it is unknown if there is any clear association between MS and HP. Results We studied 144 persons with multiple sclerosis prospectively enrolled in our hematopoietic stem cell transplantation program. In 144 persons, 14% patients were positive for IgG-HP whereas 86% were negative, 8.3% pwMS were IgM-HP positive while 91.6% pwMS were negative, 18% patients were positive and 82% negative for IgA-HP. Significantly lower concentrations of anti-HP IgG were found in RRMS in comparison with SPMS (- 28.5, 95% CI 4.3-52.7). While concentrations of anti-HP IgA were significantly lower in SPMS in comparison with RRMS (0.54, 95% CI 0.1-0.9). In a multivariate analysis, positivity rate of anti-HP IgG was found to be higher in SPMS patients (OR 4.7, 95% CI 1.1-19.6). Conclusions There was a negative correlation between the presence of anti-HP antibodies and MS. Further larger studies with specific laboratory testing methods are needed to discard or confirm the potential role of anti-HP antibodies as protective for MS.