title: Relationship betweenHelicobacter pyloriinfection and multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent data indicate the presence of immunomodulating properties ofHelicobacter pylori (Hp)(HpSydney Strain-1 antigen) in an experimental model of multiple sclerosis (MS), and there are limited contradictory epidemiologic data regardingHpserology in MS patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The aim of this prospective, comparative study was to validate the incidence of activeHpinfection by histology and the endoscopic abnormalities, in 44 patients with relapsing-remitting MS and 20 anemic controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of histologically confirmed activeHpinfection in 44 MS patients was 86.4% vs. 50% in 20 matched anemic control participants (P=0.002, odds ratio 6.33, 95%CI 1.85-21.64). Concomitant diseases of autoimmune origin including hypothyroidism and ulcerative colitis were exclusively present in MS patients. Moreover, a trend of increased presence of pathological endoscopic findings such as hiatus hernia, Barrett's esophagus and duodenal ulcer disease was observed in MS patients compared with controls; Barrett's esophagus and duodenal ulcers were exclusively observed in MS patients. Likewise,Hp(+) MS patients showed exclusive presence of hiatus hernia, esophagitis and duodenal ulcer disease compared withHp(-) MS patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hpinfection appears to be more frequent in MS patients. If confirmed, this might indicate either a common factor that causes susceptibilities to both MS andHpinfection or thatHpmight be a causal factor for developing MS. If a causal link betweenHpinfection and MS is confirmed in the future, this may have a major impact on the pathophysiology and management of MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Second Medical Clinic, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Ippokration Hospital (Emmanuel Gavalas, Jannis Kountouras, Christos Zavos, Stergios A. Polyzos, Efthymia Vlachaki, Ioannis Venizelos), Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gavalas
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Second Medical Clinic, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Ippokration Hospital (Emmanuel Gavalas, Jannis Kountouras, Christos Zavos, Stergios A. Polyzos, Efthymia Vlachaki, Ioannis Venizelos), Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Jannis
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kountouras
authors.affiliation: B' Department of Neurology, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Marina Boziki), Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boziki
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Second Medical Clinic, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Ippokration Hospital (Emmanuel Gavalas, Jannis Kountouras, Christos Zavos, Stergios A. Polyzos, Efthymia Vlachaki, Ioannis Venizelos), Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zavos
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Second Medical Clinic, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Ippokration Hospital (Emmanuel Gavalas, Jannis Kountouras, Christos Zavos, Stergios A. Polyzos, Efthymia Vlachaki, Ioannis Venizelos), Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Stergios A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Polyzos
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Second Medical Clinic, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Ippokration Hospital (Emmanuel Gavalas, Jannis Kountouras, Christos Zavos, Stergios A. Polyzos, Efthymia Vlachaki, Ioannis Venizelos), Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Efthymia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vlachaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Second Medical Clinic, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Ippokration Hospital (Emmanuel Gavalas, Jannis Kountouras, Christos Zavos, Stergios A. Polyzos, Efthymia Vlachaki, Ioannis Venizelos), Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Venizelos
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, "Papageorgiou" Hospital (Dimitrios Tsiptsios, Georgia Deretzi), Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tsiptsios
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, "Papageorgiou" Hospital (Dimitrios Tsiptsios, Georgia Deretzi), Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Deretzi
keywords: Helicobacter pylori; autoimmune disorders; epidemiology; multiple sclerosis; neurodegenerative disorders