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Abstract

Background. Multiple sclerosis (MS) has a variable clinical and pathological course and pace, which eventually turns over years of that progression into a major source of disability especially among young adults. The regional incidence and prevalence data course are of utmost interest (i.e they tend to be higher in Europe within the last decade) mirroring diagnosis improvement, earlier and better treatment choices and an improved physio-pathological insight as shown by most recent studies. (1) The incidence and prevalence data tend to be higher in Europe within the last decade and are explained by diagnosis improvement and earlier and better treatment solutions for the patients mirrored by most recent studies. (1)The objective of the present study is to assess data available concerning the prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Romania and in Central and Southeastern Europe in a regional view. Material and method. A literature search has been performed in PubMed, DIMDI, Web of Science, and Google Scholar to retrieve population based studies in Central and Eastern Europe and epidemiological reviews through years 1960-2015. We searched the term "MS" combined with one of the following: "epidemiology" or "incidence" or "prevalence". We also did a manual search of reference list of the relevant articles. Results. 38 studies met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. The epidemiologic data available for Central and Eastern Europe during the period 1960-2015 support the heterogeneity both of this region's resident population and of the studies design, making any global data assessment diffi cult, with a questionable reliability, therefore justifying a newer reappraisal.