Does eczema increase risk of MS....No.

Deckert S, Kopkow C, Schmitt J. Nona-llergic comorbidities of atopic eczema: an overview of systematic reviews. Allergy. 2013 Sep 21. doi: 10.1111/all.12246. [Epub ahead of print]

 The aims of this overview are to synthesize the current evidence of published systematic reviews (SRs) on non-allergic comorbidities of atopic eczema (AE). EMBASE and MEDLINE were searched for SRs published from inception to November 2012. SRs were selected independently based on predefined inclusion criteria. Methodological quality of SRs included was assessed by two independent reviewers using the Revised Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (R-AMSTAR) checklist. Nine SRs met all inclusion criteria. Six reviews addressing the association between AE and cancer suggest a decreased risk of glioma, meningioma, and acute lymphoblastic leukemia in patients with current or previous AE. One SR reported a consistent positive association of AE with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Diabetes mellitus type 1 and multiple sclerosis (MS) were not significantly related to AE in reviews based on cross-sectional and case-control studies. Patients with AE appear to be at decreased risk of brain tumors. The relationship of AE with Th1- and Th17-mediated (auto-)inflammatory conditions such as diabetes mellitus type 1 and MS should be clarified in prospective observational studies. Children with AE are at increased risk of ADHD. SRs on the risk of depression and Th17-mediated disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease of patients with AE are missing.


Karimi P, Modarresi SZ, Sahraian MA, Shokouhi Shoormasti R, Mahlooji M, Kazemnejad A, Pourpak Z.The relation of multiple sclerosis with allergy and atopy: a case control study. Iran J Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2013; 12(2):182-9.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Allergy are believed to up regulate T helper cell type 1 (Th1) and T helper cell type 2 (Th2) responses, respectively. It has been shown that disequilibrium in the ratio of Th1/Th2 activities may increase frequency of one disease and decrease the frequency of the other. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation of MS with allergy and atopy in new diagnosed MS patients. This case-control study was conducted on 40 new diagnosed MS patients and the same number of normal controls. All of the patients were diagnosed (according to McDonald criteria) at most 2 years prior to the study. Demographic data and clinical characteristics of both groups were recorded in a questionnaire. The total IgE and allergen specific IgE in the serum were measured in all the cases. Forty MS patients (female/male: 4.71) with mean age of 30.55±9.5 years and 40 healthy controls entered in this study. History of allergy was observed in 20(50%) of MS patients (including 15 (37.5%) rhinitis, 6 (15%) conjunctivitis, 3 (7.5%) urticaria and eczema, 1 (2.5%) asthma), and 20 (50%) of the controls (including 8 (20%) rhinitis, 4 (10%) conjunctivitis, 7 (17.5%) urticaria and eczema, 1 (2.5%) asthma). The differences between the two groups were not statistically significant. Neither the serum total IgE, nor the frequency of specific IgE against Weed mix, Grass Mix, Tree mix1, Tree mix 2, Dermatophagoides Farinae, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Epidermal and animal proteins mix differed statistically between the two groups. There was also no significant relationship between MS clinical manifestations and allergy prevalence and also between MS and atopy. The results of this study as some other similar studies showed the same prevalence of allergy in MS patients and controls and also demonstrated no relation between MS and atopy.


In the world view of T cell biology, MS and allergies are on the opposite ends of the spectrum. What is thought to be good for MS is bad for allergy and vice versa. I was asked if the risk of eczema and MS are related and as can be seen from these post-there is no direct relationship. Therefore if you have eczema it does not increase you risk of MS. However other conditions like thyroid problems are more associatied

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