Lower serum vitamin D levels are associated with a higher relapse risk in multiple sclerosis.

Objective: There is increasing evidence that vitamin D can be protective against the development of multiple sclerosis (MS), but it may also be beneficial for the clinical course of the disease. Our objective was to prospectively investigate if 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25-OH-D) levels are associated with exacerbation risk in MS in a study with frequent serum measurements.

Methods: This was a prospective longitudinal study in 73 patients with relapsing-remitting MS.

Chlamydia pneumoniae and the risk for exacerbation in multiple sclerosis patients.

In this prospective study of 73 relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis patients followed up for a mean of 1.7 years, the relation was tested between serologically defined Chlamydia pneumoniae (CP) infection periods and exacerbation rate. Episodes of serologically defined CP infections were observed in a subgroup, and these episodes were associated with increased risk for exacerbation.