Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the central nervous system, affecting the ability of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord to communicate with each other. Now, Swedish researchers report in the March 31, 2009 issue of Neurology that overall cancer risk is reduced among patients with multiple sclerosis. However, those with multiple sclerosis seemed to be a slightly higher risk for certain types of tumors.

Researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden compared cancer risk among 20,276 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 203,951 individuals without MS over an average follow-up period of 35 years. They found that there was a decreased overall risk of cancer among patients with MS; however, MS patients did seem to have a slightly increased risk of brain tumors and urinary cancers.

The researchers speculated that the reduction in cancer risk among MS patients may be due to lifestyle behavior changes, treatment following diagnosis, or some immunologic characteristics of MS. However, they found that parents of patient with MS did not have a significantly increased or decreased overall cancer risk. This suggests that there is something more than an inherited characteristic that explains the reduced cancer risk among patients with MS.

Source:

Neurology. 2009;72:1170-1177.