Infections or Sepsis Preceding Clinically Diagnosed α-Synucleinopathies: A Case-Control Study

Background Several studies have proposed a role for infections to induce an inflammatory response triggering Parkinson's disease. This remains controversial and the influence of severe infections on other alpha-synucleinopathies (Dementia with Lewy Bodies, Parkinson's disease dementia, and Multiple System Atrophy) has not been adequately investigated. Objectives To assess the association between hospitalization-required infections or sepsis and risk of clinically diagnosed alpha-synucleinopathies. Methods Using the medical records-linkage system (Rochester Epidemiology Project), we identified all alpha-synucleinopathy cases of in Olmsted County (1991-2010). Cases were matched by symptom-onset age and sex to controls. We reviewed complete medical records to detect hospital-required infections or sepsis preceding clinical-motor onset of alpha-synucleinopathies. We used conditional logistic regression to calculate the odds ratio of all alpha-synucleinopathies, adjusting for medications, coffee, and smoking. Results There was no association between infection-related hospitalization (odds ratio: 1.05; 95% confidence interval: 0.78-1.40; P = 0.76) or sepsis (odds ratio: 0.86; 95% confidence interval: 0.40-1.85; P = 0.70) and all alpha-synucleinopathies in multivariable analyses. We did not identify any associations after stratifying for type of alpha-synucleinopathy, sex, and age at clinical-motor onset. We analyzed sepsis separately with similar results. Conclusion We did not observe any associations between infections leading to hospitalization or sepsis and development of any alpha-synucleinopathies. (c) 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society