Title |
Hygiene and risk of CNS demyelination and asthma
|
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Published in |
Clinical & Experimental Immunology, April 2013
|
DOI | 10.1111/cei.12077 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
A.‐M. Hughes, R. M. Lucas, A. J. McMichael, T. Dwyer, M. P. Pender, I. van der Mei, B. V. Taylor, P. Valery, C. Chapman, A. Coulthard, K. Dear, T. J. Kilpatrick, D. Williams, A.‐L. Ponsonby |
Abstract |
The increasing prevalence of immune-related diseases, including multiple sclerosis, may be partly explained by reduced microbial burden during childhood. Within a multi-centre case-control study population, we examined: (i) the co-morbid immune diseases profile of adults with a first clinical diagnosis of central nervous system demyelination (FCD) and (ii) sibship structure in relation to an autoimmune (FCD) and an allergic (asthma) disease. FCD cases (n = 282) were aged 18-59 years; controls (n = 558) were matched on age, sex and region. Measures include: history of doctor-diagnosed asthma; sibling profile (number; dates of birth); and regular childcare attendance. FCD cases did not differ from controls with regard to personal or family history of allergy, but had a greater likelihood of chronic fatigue syndrome [odds ratio (OR) = 3·11; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·11, 8·71]. Having any younger siblings showed reduced odds of FCD (OR = 0·68; 95% CI: 0·49, 0·95) but not asthma (OR = 1·47; 95% CI: 0·91, 2·38). In contrast, an increasing number of older siblings was associated with reduced risk of asthma (P trend = 0·04) but not FCD (P trend = 0·66). Allergies were not over-represented among people presenting with FCD. Sibship characteristics influence both FCD and asthma risk but the underlying mechanisms differ, possibly due to the timing of the putative 'sibling effect'. |
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Mendeley readers
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