Is a History of Type 1 Allergic Diseases Associated with the Risk of Developing Multiple Sclerosis?

Abstract

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder affecting the central nervous system, characterized by demyelination of the neurons with limited remyelination. There has been a rising trend toward associating a history of allergy with MS. Both MS and type 1 allergies are developed by a hyper-reactive immune system. This is further reinforced by the similar environmental and genetic factors of both diseases. This review examines the association between a history of type 1 allergic diseases and the risk of MS, as well as the influence of study location on the association. A literature search was conducted through the Saudi Digital Library search engine, which includes many databases, such as PubMed and Web of Science; articles addressing the relationship between MS and type 1 allergies were retrieved. In this review, most studies show an inverse or no association between type 1 allergy history and MS. Most articles concluded that the relationship is not statistically significant. One study stated that asthma increases MS risk. Geographical location does not influence MS and allergy association.