Mycoplasma pneumonia seroposivity in Iranian patients with relapsing-remitting multipl sclerosis: a randomized case-control study.

OBJECTIVES Environmental factors, such as different infections, have proposed to be involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). This study aimed to the evaluate mycoplasma pneumonia seropositivity, as a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). METHODOLOGY Using ELISA method, IgM and IgG antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae were determined in 130 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (85 Remitted and 45 Relapsed) and 50 sex- and age-matched controls. The groups were compared using Kruskal-Wallis test at the significant level of p < 0.05. RESULTS The median [interquartile range] titer of IgG in remitted multiple sclerosis group was 65.3 [51.1-75.2] RU/ml versus 64 [52.6-71.4] RU/ml in relapsed group and 57.5 [29.2-74.3] RU/ml in control group (p = 0.442). There was not any significant difference between the groups base on median titer of IgM too (p = 0.446). The median [interquartile range] titer of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MPn) IgG in women was 69.2 [56.4-77.4] RU/ml in remitted patients versus 63.85 [52.45-71.25] RU/ml in relapsed patients and 55.2 [29.17-72.75] RU/ml in controls (p = 0.022). Post hoc analysis demonstrated significant difference between remitted patients and controls (p = 0.002). There was not any significant difference between men in the groups (p = 0.7). CONCLUSIONS Mycoplasma seroposivity in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis was not significantly different in various phases of activity of disease compare to controls; but in women, seroposivity of Mycoplasma antibodies were more than controls.