The natural history of untreated multiple sclerosis in Iceland. A total population-based 50 year prospective study

Incidence of multiple sclerosis in Iceland, 2002–2007: a population-based study

“…8 Older studies from Iceland found the proportion of women to be 58% (1956)(1957)(1958)(1959)(1960)(1961)(1962)(1963)(1964)(1965) 4 and 69% (1986)(1987)(1988)(1989)(1990). 3 This apparent increase in the proportion of women with MS in Iceland is comparable with several studies that have reported an increasing proportion of women 2 being diagnosed with MS.…”

“…Two studies from Iceland have reported the incidence of MS to be 4.98-5.28 per 100,000 (1981)(1982)(1983)(1984)(1985)(1986)(1987)(1988)(1989)(1990) 3 and 1.94 per 100,000 (1956)(1957)(1958)(1959)(1960)(1961)(1962)(1963)(1964)(1965). 4 We determined the incidence of clinically definite MS and the results of the principal diagnostic studies used in the diagnosis of MS.…”

Physical Functioning in Multiple Sclerosis: A Population-Based Study in Central Finland

“…Recent studies suggest that MS may be a rather more benign disease than has previously recognised (27,28), even according to a 50-year prospective study in untreated MS subjects (29). Subjects can fare relatively well without these new disease-modifying therapies and available medications have, at best, moderate shortterm efficacy (28).…”

Changes in the ascertainment of multiple sclerosis

“…Given the emphasis on early treatment of MS, it is likely that more patients with milder disease will begin diseasemodifying therapies. It is possible, even likely, that some of these mild cases might have a good prognosis even without treatment 27,28 ; thus patients may be subjected to unnecessary adverse effects and costs of therapy. 29 Unfortunately, the capacity to distinguish which patients will have a mild vs severe disease course is poor.…”