A to Z of MS Hookworms

The hookworm is a parasitic worm that lives in the small intestine of its host. Hookworm infection has been found to have beneficial effects on people with conditions linked to overactive immune systems, including asthma and Crohn's disease.

A small study in Argentina followed 12 people with multiple sclerosis who were infected with hookworms, 12 who were uninfected and a control group of 12 people who didn't have MS. Participants were followed for an average of four and a half years. In this time, there were three clinical relapses in the infected group, compared to 56 in the uninfected group. 11 of the uninfected group showed an increase in their EDSS score during the study, compared to two of the infected group.

The researchers suggest that an autoimmune response as a result of the hookworm infection causes a decrease in the normal inflammatory response associated with MS.

A UK study based at the University of Nottingham began recruiting in 2012. The study will infect people with a small number of hookworms and then monitor the effects on their MS over the following year.

References

Correale J, Farez M.
Association between parasite infection and immune responses in multiple sclerosis.
Annals of Neurology 2007;61(2):97-108.
abstract

Current Controlled Trials website

Return to index