Risk factors of multiple sclerosis: a case-control study

Abstract

We assessed the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) associated with a series of putative risk factors. We studied 140 patients (90 women) with MS (mean age, 42.1 years; SD= 10.2 years; disease duration, 10.9 years, SD= 7.5 years) and 131 sex-and age-matched controls. Using a structured questionnaire, we collected information related to demographic data, socio-economic status, education, ethnicity, changes of domiciles, migration, occupation, environmental, nutritional and hormonal factors, exposure to various bacterial and viral agents, vaccinations, and family history of diseases. In multiple logistic regression analysis, we found independent risk factors of MS to be: familiarity for MS (OR= 12.1; 95% CI, 1.3-110.7), autoimmune diseases (OR= 3.8; 95% CI, 2.0-7.1) and migraine (OR= 8.7; 95% CI, 1.0-75.4); comorbidity with autoimmune disease (OR= 6.8; 95% CI, 1.4-32.0) and migraine (OR= 13.5; 95% CI, 1.5-116.6); and vaccination against measles (OR= 92.2; 95%, 12.1-700.2). Familial susceptibility to MS, autoimmune diseases and migraine, and vaccination to measles are associated with an increased risk of MS. The data collected in this study are confirmatory and support the hypothesis that etiology of MS constitutes the effect of interplay between genetic and environmental risk factors. However, the relatively small number of cases and controls prevents firm conclusions.

Multiple Sclerosis and Several Demographic Characteristics, Family History of MS, and Month of Birth: A Case-Control Study

“…Several studies have indicated an association between genetic factors and the risk of MS (1,30,31). Zor-zon (2003) suggested that family history is a significant risk factor for MS (32), consistent with the findings of the present study. These results suggest a role for genetic susceptibility in the risk of MS.…”

Potential risk factors for multiple sclerosis in Rio de Janeiro: a case-control study

“…Ghadirian et al 9 , Zorzon et al 27 and Riise et al 17 also reported a direct and statistically signficant relationship between smoking and MS. Tardieu and Mikaeloff 29 also have shown that the risk of MS was increased by passive smoking at home, but this aspect was not studied in the current work.…”

“…Moreover, there was no difference between cases and controls with respect to race / ethnicity or education level. MS has been reported to become clinical apparent or be exacerbated following immunization with a variety of vaccines 9,15,27 . In the meantime, in a recent systematic review conducted by Hernán, Alonso and Hernández-Díaz 28 the OR of MS associated with history of tetanus vaccination was 0.67 (95% CI: 0.55 to 0.81).…”

Study relationship between multiple sclerosis and migraine

“…Similar results were also observed in Vecca and Nicoletti's studies. [10][11][12] In the study by Putzki, female to male ratio was 2.13 to 1. Corresponding to above mentioned studies, the women in the present study constituted the majority of people with MS (73.13%).…”

“…1,2,6,[8][9][10][11] In a study undertaken by Ashtary, 76% of patients with MS were female. 9 Similarly, in Ashtiani's study, 76.9% of patients with MS were female.…”