Paint and varnish products and multiple sclerosis: what's in common?

Received a warning from scientists that paint and varnish products and solvents can significantly increase the chances of developing multiple sclerosis in those patients who have a hereditary predisposition to such a disease.

The problem of the incidence of multiple sclerosis worries scientists for more than a decade. According to statistics, this pathology affects at least 2.1 million people on the planet. A chronic inflammatory process affecting the nervous system has certain risk factors: the development of multiple sclerosis most often occurs in women belonging to the Caucasoid race, as well as in people whose close relatives had a similar diagnosis. The person can not influence these factors. But scientists have voiced yet another unfavorable factor that can stimulate the development of the disease - it's intoxication with certain substances. Therefore, if the penetration of dangerous toxins into the body is anticipated in advance, it is possible to prevent the development of multiple sclerosis. What toxic substances are they talking about?

According to the results of the new study, intoxication, leading to the development of the disease, is associated with the systematic exposure of solvent and paint products, as well as cigarette smoke.

Professor Anna Hedstrom, representing the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, eagerly described the essence of the study. Specialists have suggested that the regular inhalation of toxic substances and, as a result, irritation of lung tissue, can provoke an immune response, which gives impetus to the development of pathology in patients with a genetic predisposition. To confirm their assumption, the researchers analyzed information on more than 2 thousand patients with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Also, for differentiation, materials about almost 3 thousand healthy people were viewed. Molecular genetic examination demonstrated that patients who had a hereditary predisposition were carriers of a genetic leukocyte disorder. The information presented by scientists turned out to be more than interesting:

• in a group of people who did not have a genetic defect, did not smoke and were not systematically exposed to paints and solvents, the ratio of sick and healthy was in the limit of 1: 4;
• in the group of people with a genetic defect and smoking, but without the systematic influence of paints and solvents, the ratio of patients and healthy was 9: 5;
• in the group of people with a genetic defect, smoking and regularly exposed to varnish-colored materials, the ratio of patients and healthy was 8: 1 (!).

Given the information received, Professor Hedstrom said: the systematic intoxication to which an ordinary healthy person is exposed increases the risk of developing multiple sclerosis almost doubled. A combination of "bad" genes and intoxication - this is a sevenfold increase in the incidence. If the same "bouquet" add regular smoking, then the increase in the incidence is accelerated by 30 times.

"We are dealing with dangerous factors that become even more dangerous if combined with each other. We will continue our research in order to understand how such factors interact with each other. This is necessary for the further development of effective preventive measures. Now we can only assume that the inhalation of toxic substances stimulates the development of an inflammatory reaction in the lungs, which acts as the cause of immune disorders, "says the doctor from Oxford Gabriel De Luca.

So far, we can draw only one conclusion: if there were cases of multiple sclerosis in the family, then do not try fate: it is better to take care of your health beforehand, refusing to smoke and avoiding work related to paint and varnish products and solvents.

The results of the research work are described in the periodical Neurology.

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