# BCG vaccination and multiple sclerosis risk: A Norwegian cohort study

## TL;DR

A Norwegian study found no link between BCG vaccination in early adulthood and reduced risk of multiple sclerosis.

## Contribution

This study provides empirical evidence from a large cohort on the lack of association between BCG vaccination and MS risk.

## Key findings

- No association was found between BCG vaccination and multiple sclerosis risk (OR = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.80–1.25).
- Individuals with latent tuberculosis infection also showed no significant reduction in MS risk (OR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.66–1.13).
- The study used data from over 790,000 Norwegians to assess long-term effects of BCG vaccination on MS.

## Abstract

Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccination induces long-lasting effects on the adaptive and innate immune systems and prevents development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and possibly also inflammatory disease activity in multiple sclerosis (MS).

The objective is to examine if BCG given in early adulthood decreases MS risk.

From 791,369 (52% females) Norwegians participating in a national tuberculosis screening program from 1963 to 1975, we collected information on BCG vaccination and tuberculosis disease status. Later, MS disease was ascertained through both the Norwegian MS Registry and Biobank and the Norwegian Death Registry. We used logistic regression models to assess the relationship between BCG vaccination and MS risk.

In those BCG vaccinated, mean age at vaccination was 15.6 (standard deviation (SD) = 5.5) years. A total of 2862 (65% females) MS cases were retrieved. Overall, we found no association between MS risk and BCG vaccination. Compared to non-BCG-vaccinated individuals with no signs of tuberculosis infection, odds ratio (OR) for MS was 1.00 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.80–1.25) in the BCG-vaccinated group. In those not BCG vaccinated because of latent tuberculosis infection, the corresponding OR was 0.86 (95% CI = 0.66–1.13).

We found no evidence of BCG vaccination or latent tuberculosis infection in young adulthood being linked to MS risk.