<b><i>Helicobacter pylori</i></b> Infection in Neuromyelitis Optica and Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Objective: To determine the Helicobacter pylori infection status in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica (NMO) spectrum. Methods:H. pylori infection was certified by indirect immunofluorescence assay. Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody was detected by cell-based assay. H. pylori seroprevalence was measured in 118 patients with NMO (n = 52), high-risk NMO (hrNMO, longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis, n = 17 and recurrent optic neuritis, n = 7), MS (n = 42) and healthy controls (n = 27). Logistic regression analysis was used to determine associations between H. pylori infection and NMO and MS. Results:H. pylori antibodies were present in 119 serum samples (82.1%, 119/145), with antibody positivity in 90.4% (47/52) of the patients with NMO, 95.8% (23/24) of the patients with hrNMO, 73.8% (31/42) of the patients with MS and 59.3% (16/27) of the controls. NMO spectrum patients had greater positivity for H. pylori than MS patients (p < 0.05) and controls (p < 0.05). The frequency of H. pylori seropositivity did not significantly differ between MS patients and controls (p = 0.726). H. pylori seropositivity was significantly higher in AQP4 antibody-positive patients (54/58, 93.1%; p = 0.038) than in AQP4 antibody-negative patients (48/60, 80%). Logistic regression analysis showed that H. pylori seropositivity was significantly associated with hrNMO [odds ratio (OR) = 9.311, p = 0.005] or hrNMO + NMO (OR = 6.350, p = 0.028). Conclusion:H. pylori infection was present in most Chinese patients with NMO and hrNMO, and may be a risk factor for the NMO spectrum.

Anti-hsp60 antibody responses based on Helicobacter pylori in patients with multiple sclerosis: (ir)Relevance to disease pathogenesis

“…15 (Li et al, 2007, Mohebi et al, 2013, Pedrini et al, 2015, Kountouras et al, 2010, Long et al, 2013, Pezeshki et al, 2008. Our study failed to reveal any difference on the prevalence of anti-Hp antibodies between MS and HCs.…”

“…Reported data on the prevalence of anti-Hp antibodies in MS show considerable variation (Li et al, 2007, Long et al, 2013, Mohebi et al, 2013, Pedrini et al, 2015, Smyk et al, 2014, Wender, 2003. Thus, some authors found an increased frequency of anti-Hp antibodies in MS (Long et al, 2013), while others found a significantly lower prevalence of anti-Hp antibodies in MS compared to HCs…”

Meta-analysis of association between Helicobacter pylori infection and multiple sclerosis

“…Some studies have reported a significant negative correlation and suggested that H. pylori infection might exert a protective effect to reduce the risk of MS [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]. However, others have failed to determine any association between H. pylori infection and MS [27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35], and some studies reported a high prevalence of H. pylori infection in MS patients [36,37]. To obtain a more comprehensive estimate of the association we conducted a meta-analysis to determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection in patients with MS and healthy controls.…”

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder and Neurosyphilis Coexist in A Chinese Woman

“…Therefore, her myelitis occurrence maybe mainly associated with AQP4 antibodies autoimmunity. Although potential infections, such as helicobacter pylori [4,12], were associated with anti-AQP4 antibody positive status, no evidence has showed that syphilis infection was involved in the AQP4 autoimmunity. Therefore, neurosyphilis may be an asymptomatic and isolated episode in our case.…”

“…Previous studies have revealed this autoantibody as an important contributor to TM pathology. Viral or bacterial infections [3,4] may be prodromal factors of TM, commonly stimulating an inappropriate immune attack in spinal cord. On the other hand, many infections can induce direct neuronal invasion, resulting in spinal cord injury.…”