Surgery and Risk for Multiple Sclerosis
Surgery and Risk for Multiple Sclerosis
This result of this meta-analysis suggests a statistically significant and clinically important increased risk for developing MS in those with tonsillectomy and appendectomy at ≤ 20 years of age. Despite this significant finding, this in no way suggests or demonstrates causality, in that epidemiological studies can only provide etiological clues at best. More rigorous prospective studies, with high statistical power, are needed to prove an effect. Future prospective studies, that take into consideration the long latency period between the age of putative biological onset and clinical onset of MS, are needed in order to definitively rule out any links between tonsillectomy (or other surgeries) and MS.
Conclusion
This result of this meta-analysis suggests a statistically significant and clinically important increased risk for developing MS in those with tonsillectomy and appendectomy at ≤ 20 years of age. Despite this significant finding, this in no way suggests or demonstrates causality, in that epidemiological studies can only provide etiological clues at best. More rigorous prospective studies, with high statistical power, are needed to prove an effect. Future prospective studies, that take into consideration the long latency period between the age of putative biological onset and clinical onset of MS, are needed in order to definitively rule out any links between tonsillectomy (or other surgeries) and MS.
