Childhood Infections as Risk Factors for Multiple Sclerosis: Belgrade Case-Control Study

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Abstract
The aim of this case-control study was to analyze the role of childhood infections and vaccinations in patients with MS in the Belgrade population. The study group comprised 110 cases with definite MS according to Poser's criteria, in whom onset symptoms occurred up to 2 years prior to the interview. An equal number of controls, individually matched by sex, age and area of residence, was recruited from patients with various nonautoimmune neurological disorders. Measles (OR = 2.6, 95%CI 1.4-5.0), chickenpox (OR = 3.0, 95%CI 1.5-6.0), rubella (OR = 2.4, 95%CI 1.2-4.7), whooping cough (OR = 1.9, 95%CI 0.8-4.4), and mumps (OR = 1.8, 95%CI 0.8-4.5), at age < or = 7 years, were more frequently reported by MS cases. The total number of childhood viral infections (including measles, rubella, chickenpox, and mumps) at age < or = 7 years was significantly higher in MS cases than in controls (OR = 1.8, 95%CI 1.4-2.5). Concerning vaccinations, no statistically significant differences were found between groups. According to multivariate analysis, rubella (OR = 2.5, 95%CI 1.4-4.4, p = 0.001) and measles (OR = 2.4, 95%CI 1.3-4.3, p = 0.003) at age < or = 7 years were significantly related to MS.