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Interesting conclusion...



Tetanus vaccination and risk of multiple sclerosis: a systematic review.

* Hernan MA,
* Alonso A,
* Hernandez-Diaz S.
Neurology. 2006 Jul 25;67(2):212-5.
Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA. miguel_hernan@post.harvard.edu

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a systematic review on the association between tetanus vaccination and the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS).

METHODS: The authors searched the databases Medline, LILACS, EMBASE, and Science Citation Index including the period 1966 to September 1, 2005. Eligible studies had to meet the following inclusion criteria: presentation of original data, case-control or cohort design, physician-confirmed diagnosis of MS as the outcome of interest, attempt to ascertain vaccinations in a period before the diagnosis, and report of an association measure between tetanus vaccination and incidence of MS, and its 95% CI or enough information to compute it. Study specific log ORs were weighted by the inverse of their variances to obtain a pooled estimate and its 95% CI.

RESULTS: The OR of MS associated with history of tetanus vaccination was 0.67 (95% CI: 0.55 to 0.81). There was little indication of heterogeneity of results across studies.

CONCLUSION: Tetanus vaccination is associated with a lower risk of multiple sclerosis.

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Does the study say anything about a tetanus vaccination after you have MS ? I read some research about vaccination and got a shot soon after I was diagnosed. Probably a good idea to get one even if it doesn't help the MS is guess.

More info.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Vaccination against tetanus may offer protection against the development of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new study from Boston-based researchers.

Dr. Miguel A. Hernan and colleagues from Harvard School of Public Health pooled data from nine studies published between 1966 and 2005 that looked at the association between tetanus vaccination and MS risk. Analyses centered on a total of 963 MS cases and 3126 controls.

They found that a history of having been immunized against tetanus was associated with a 33 percent decrease in risk of MS.

The results of the current meta-analysis suggest that tetanus vaccination may prevent or delay the development of MS. The investigators call for further epidemiologic research to assess the role of timing of immunization and the number of doses associated with this protective effect.

The hypothesis that tetanus immunity may protect against MS is supported by the findings of two recent prospective studies, Hernan and colleagues note in a report in the journal Neurology.

The biologic mechanism by which the tetanus vaccination may protect against MS is unclear, according to the authors. They note, however, that vaccination with tetanus toxoid may shift the T helper cell immune response from a proinflammatory Th1 response to an anti-inflammatory Th2 response.

Immunizing with the tetanus toxoid "could be a promising approach for the treatment and prevention of MS and other Th1 cell mediated autoimmune disorders," the clinicians charge.

SOURCE: Neurology July 25, 2006.

I wonder if the tetanus jab could partly explain why males get MS less than females. I would guess that more males get the tetanus jab (given that more work in jobs where they are likely to get e.g. gardeners, carpenters etc).

Or perhaps it's the testosterone that protects males.

Or perhaps it's because more males have outdoor jobs (working on roads etc) and get more Vit D.

Or....

Reduce risk, but not eliminate, I guess. I am sad to report I have had several tetanus shots over the last 20 years. Yet I am here posting. Maybe my MS, or whatever it is, got started more than 20 years ago....Who knows?