Dr. Jay Avasarala, professor of neurology and director of the University of Kentucky’s Multiple Sclerosis Clinic, and co-authors, conducted a retrospective study in which they evaluated approximately 96.5 million enrollees in a database. More than 200,000 of the enrollees had inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The research focused on looking at the effect of TNF-alpha inhibitors, biologic agents, used in IBD treatment on the probability of developing Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Findings from the study were recently published in the journal Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders. In the article, Avasarala explains, “published literature indicates that IBD and MS patients have a 50% increased risk (bi-directional) of MS or IBD co-morbidity, respectively, with no apparent differences between patients with Crohn’s disease. The association between MS and IBD is strengthened by observations of an increased prevalence of IBD among MS patients compared to the general population. Another study published in 2005 noted the increased prevalence of MS, demyelination, and optic neuritis in patients with IBD.”