Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42160053›Full record

ArticleJAMA network open2026

Live Attenuated Measles-Mumps-Rubella and Varicella Vaccinations and Multiple Sclerosis Activity.

René Carvajal, Marta Ponzano, Carmen Tur, Xavier Martínez-Gómez, Juliana Esperalba, Álvaro Cobo-Calvo, Blanca Borras-Bemejo, Francesca Bovis, Helena Ariño, Georgina Arrambide and 20 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JAMA network open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

30 authors.

René CarvajalDepartment of Neurology-Neuroimmunology, Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Marta PonzanoDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Carmen TurDepartment of Neurology-Neuroimmunology, Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Xavier Martínez-GómezDepartment of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
Juliana EsperalbaDepartment of Microbiology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
Álvaro Cobo-CalvoDepartment of Neurology-Neuroimmunology, Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Blanca Borras-BemejoDepartment of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
Francesca BovisDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Helena AriñoDepartment of Neurology-Neuroimmunology, Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Georgina ArrambideDepartment of Neurology-Neuroimmunology, Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Luca BolloDepartment of Neurology-Neuroimmunology, Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Joaquín CastillóDepartment of Neurology-Neuroimmunology, Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Manuel ComabellaDepartment of Neurology-Neuroimmunology, Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Ingrid GalánDepartment of Neurology-Neuroimmunology, Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Daniel Hernández-SoriaDepartment of Neurology-Neuroimmunology, Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Luciana MidagliaDepartment of Neurology-Neuroimmunology, Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Neus Mongay-OchoaDepartment of Neurology-Neuroimmunology, Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Agustín PappollaDepartment of Neurology-Neuroimmunology, Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
José Alejandro RamírezDepartment of Neurology-Neuroimmunology, Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
José Ángel Rodrigo-PendásDepartment of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
Breogán Rodríguez-AcevedoDepartment of Neurology-Neuroimmunology, Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Jordi RíoDepartment of Neurology-Neuroimmunology, Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Ángela Vidal-JordanaDepartment of Neurology-Neuroimmunology, Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Andreu VilasecaDepartment of Neurology-Neuroimmunology, Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Ana ZabalzaDepartment of Neurology-Neuroimmunology, Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Jaume Sastre-GarrigaDepartment of Neurology-Neuroimmunology, Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Maria Pia SormaniDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Xavier MontalbanDepartment of Neurology-Neuroimmunology, Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Mar TintoréDepartment of Neurology-Neuroimmunology, Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Susana Otero-RomeroDepartment of Neurology-Neuroimmunology, Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Importance: Live attenuated measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) and varicella vaccines are recommended for immunocompetent people with multiple sclerosis (MS) lacking immunity. However, concerns about postvaccination relapses may contribute to vaccine hesitancy, and robust data addressing this risk remain limited. Objective: To assess whether the risk of MS relapse within 1 year after MMR or varicella vaccination is not unacceptably worse than risk after no such vaccination based on a predefined noninferiority margin. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study used prospectively collected data from July 2016 to October 2024 for people with MS at a tertiary MS center in Barcelona, Spain, who received at least 1 dose of live attenuated MMR and/or varicella vaccine due to serologic susceptibility. Vaccinated patients were matched 1:2 with unvaccinated control individuals with MS by sex, age, and epoch of first demyelinating event. Exposures: Live attenuated MMR and/or varicella vaccine. Main Outcomes and Measures: Primary outcomes were relapse count and time to first relapse within 1 year of time 0, analyzed using Poisson and Cox proportional hazards regression models with inverse probability weighting based on a propensity score including treatment category, Expanded Disability Status Scale score, and annualized relapse rate in the prior year. Noninferiority was predefined as an annualized relapse rate ratio with an upper bound of the 95% CI less than 1.4. Results: A total of 369 people with MS were included, of whom 123 were vaccinated (mean [SD] age, 28.75 [8.72] years; 85 females [69.1%]) and matched to 246 unvaccinated controls (mean [SD] age, 28.66 [8.60] years; 170 females [69.1%]). Overall, 36 relapse events were observed (15 [41.7%] among vaccinated patients and 21 [58.3%] among unvaccinated controls). In the weighted Poisson model, although relapse incidence was not significantly different between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals (incidence rate ratio, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.23-1.06), the noninferiority criterion was met. Similarly, weighted Cox proportional hazards regression models showed no difference in hazard of relapse between groups (hazard ratio [HR], 0.55; 95% CI, 0.25-1.17) but the noninferiority criterion was met. Sensitivity and exploratory analyses, including time-dependent adjustment for postbaseline treatment exposure (HR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.27-1.33), restriction to the high-risk period (n = 15 events), and comparisons of magnetic resonance imaging before (n = 43 events) and after (n = 21 events) exposure in vaccinated patients, revealed findings consistent with those of the primary analysis. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of nonimmunosuppressed people with MS, vaccination with live attenuated MMR or varicella vaccine was not associated with increased risk of postvaccination relapse. The results support the administration of these vaccines when indicated and may help reassure clinicians and patients, reducing vaccine hesitancy.

Indexed as

Chickenpox VaccineMeasles-Mumps-Rubella VaccineMultiple SclerosisAdultCohort StudiesFemaleHumansMaleProportional Hazards ModelsProspective StudiesRecurrenceSpainUnvaccinated PersonsVaccinationVaccines, AttenuatedVaccines, CombinedChickenpox VaccineMeasles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccinemeasles, mumps, rubella, varicella vaccineVaccines, AttenuatedVaccines, Combined

Identifiers

PMID42160053
PMCPMC13191388

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.