A 2015 study, in Greece, of 44 patients with multiple sclerosis and 20 patients in a matched control group, showed h-pylori in 86.4% of MS patients, and in 50% of patients in the control group. The study also found co-morbid intestinal and autoimmune diseases in MS patients, including espophagitis, Barretts esophagus, hiatus hernia, duodenal ulcer, and hypothyroid. The study concluded h-pylori may be a causal factor for developing MS.

The study showed H-pylori is more common in MS patients, and more than one co-morbid chronic disease can be caused by the same pathogens in a single patient. H-pylori is not the only pathogen capable of causing MS or autoimmune disease, it is one pathogen capable of causing MS or autoimmune disease, independently or in combination with other immortal pathogens.

It is rare for a research article to state a “possible” cause rather than a mere association, and “possible” cause is still not definitive. The fact that more than one pathogen or combination of pathogens can cause the same chronic disease creates reluctance by researchers to declare a pathogen is a cause of a chronic disease, because the research may later be contradicted by new research into a different pathogen.