Asthma and multiple sclerosis: an inverse association in a case-control general practice population
| Autor: | Helen Tremlett, D K Luscombe, C. M. Wiles, J. Evans |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2002 |
| Předmět: |
Adult
Male Allergy medicine.medical_specialty Multiple Sclerosis Adolescent Population Eczema Inflammatory bowel disease Arthritis Rheumatoid Risk Factors Internal medicine Epidemiology medicine Humans education Aged Retrospective Studies Asthma Aged 80 and over Type 1 diabetes education.field_of_study Wales business.industry Multiple sclerosis General Medicine Middle Aged Inflammatory Bowel Diseases medicine.disease Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 Case-Control Studies Rheumatoid arthritis Physical therapy Female Family Practice business |
| Zdroj: | QJM. 95:753-756 |
| ISSN: | 1460-2393 |
| Popis: | Background : Th1/Th2 imbalance is hypothesized to up‐regulate some diseases and down‐regulate others. Compared to controls, multiple sclerosis (MS) (Th1‐mediated) has been linked to a reduced risk of allergy and asthma (Th2‐mediated), based on patient questionnaire studies and a review of asthma medication. Aim : To investigate whether MS is associated with a reduced risk of Th2‐associated diseases and an increased risk of Th1‐associated diseases. Design : Retrospective matched case‐control study. Methods : Three hundred and twenty MS patients and controls matched for age, gender, location and smoking were selected from the Welsh General Practice Morbidity Database from 1995–99. Case and control records were assessed for Th1‐mediated and Th2‐mediated diseases. Results : Overall, 346 MS patients were identified, giving a prevalence of 127 per 100 000. There was an inverse relationship between multiple sclerosis (MS) and asthma (OR 0.33; 95%CI 0.15–0.77). No statistically significant relationships emerged between other Th2‐associated (eczema, dermatitis) or any Th1‐associated (rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disorders, inflammatory bowel disease [IBD], type 1 diabetes) diseases and MS, although no patient in either group had treated type 1 diabetes. A trend existed for IBD, with 5/320 of cases affected and no controls; OR ∞; 95%CI 1.30–∞; p =0.063. Discussion : This inverse association between MS and asthma is compatible with a Th1/Th2 imbalance. Although the Th1/Th2 theory is probably an over‐simplification in MS, a shift from Th1 cytokine dominance towards Th2 may provide drug‐targeting routes for MS. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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