Associations of PFAS and OH-PCBs with risk of multiple sclerosis onset and disability worsening

Aina Vaivade, Ida Erngren, Henrik Carlsson, Eva Freyhult, Payam Emami Khoonsari, Yassine Noui, Asma Al-Grety, Torbjörn Åkerfeldt, Ola Spjuth, Valentina Gallo, Anders Olof Larsson, Ingrid Kockum, Anna Karin Hedström, Lars Alfredsson, Tomas Olsson, Joachim Burman and Kim Kultima ()
Additional contact information
Aina Vaivade: Uppsala University
Ida Erngren: Uppsala University
Henrik Carlsson: Uppsala University
Eva Freyhult: Uppsala University
Payam Emami Khoonsari: Uppsala University
Yassine Noui: Uppsala University
Asma Al-Grety: Uppsala University
Torbjörn Åkerfeldt: Uppsala University
Ola Spjuth: Uppsala University
Valentina Gallo: University of Groningen
Anders Olof Larsson: Uppsala University
Ingrid Kockum: Karolinska Institutet
Anna Karin Hedström: Karolinska Institutet
Lars Alfredsson: Karolinska Institutet
Tomas Olsson: Karolinska Institutet
Joachim Burman: Uppsala University
Kim Kultima: Uppsala University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: Abstract Exposure to per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) and hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (OH-PCBs) is associated with adverse human health effects, including immunosuppression. It is unknown if these substances can affect the course of autoimmune diseases. This study was based on 907 individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 907 matched controls, where the MS cases were followed longitudinally using the Swedish MS register. We demonstrate sex- and disease-specific differences in serum PFAS concentrations between individuals with MS and controls. Moreover, two OH-PCBs (4-OH-CB187 and 3-OH-CB153) are associated with an increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis, regardless of sex and immigration status. With a clinical follow-up time of up to 18 years, an increase in serum concentrations of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) decreases the risk of confirmed disability worsening in both sexes, as well as perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS) and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), only in males with MS. These results show previously unknown associations between OH-PCBs and the risk of developing MS, as well as the inverse associations between PFAS exposure and the risk of disability worsening in MS.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57172-3

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