Multiple sclerosis in the two northernmost counties of Norway

Grønning, Marit; Si, Mellgren

doi:10.1111/j.1600-0404.1985.tb00878.x

Cited by 48 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…A medium prevalence (9/100,000) was observed in Tunisia in 1985, and a high prevalence (39/100,000) was observed in Jordan in 2004 If there has been a true increase in MS prevalence in the Middle East recently, it does not appear to be a unique observation. Similar trends have been observed in Norway [51][52][53] , Mexico [54] , Italy [55,56] and Sardinia [57][58][59][60] . However, interpretations must be made with caution as there are many possible explanations for the increase.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 68%

The Prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis in the Middle East

Al-Hashel¹,

Besterman²,

Wolfson

2008

Neuroepidemiology

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Background: The prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the Middle East has been reported to be low to medium. Methods: To verify this assertion we conducted a review of published data on the occurrence of MS in the Middle East.Results: Fourteen studies reporting on the prevalence of MS in the Middle East were initially identified, 5 of which were excluded due to inadequate data or serious methodological limitations. The data from the 9 included studies suggested that the prevalence of MS may vary widely within the Middle East, from low to high. However, these 9 studies were inconsistent in case ascertainment, inclusion criteria and methods of prevalence calculation, and most did not include age/sex standardization. Conclusion: Methodological inconsistencies among studies make it difficult to be confident in drawing conclusions about the prevalence of MS in the Middle East. Nevertheless, there is little evidence to support the assertion that the prevalence of MS in the Middle East is low to medium. Rather, the prevalence of MS in the Middle East may range from low to high, depending on the specific population and environment of study. However, to confirm these findings, further epidemiological research is needed.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 68%

The Prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis in the Middle East

Al-Hashel¹,

Besterman²,

Wolfson

2008

Neuroepidemiology

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“…Populations in northern Scandinavia are a unique admixture of Swedes, Finns and Sámi 24. While none of the prevalence studies reported large proportions of low-risk groups such as the Sámi in their source populations (11%14 25 to 12%26), it may be that ancestral components from the Sámi contribute to the lower prevalence at these latitudes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Latitude is significantly associated with the prevalence of multiple sclerosis: a meta-analysis

Simpson

Blizzard

Otáhal

et al. 2011

Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry

620

393

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Background There is a striking latitudinal gradient in multiple sclerosis (MS) prevalence, but exceptions in Mediterranean Europe and northern Scandinavia, and some systematic reviews, have suggested that the gradient may be an artefact. The authors sought to evaluate the association between MS prevalence and latitude by meta-regression. Methods and findings Studies were sourced from online databases, reference mining and author referral. Prevalence estimates were age-standardised to the 2009 European population. Analyses were carried out by means of random-effects meta-regression, weighted with the inverse of within-study variance. The authors included 650 prevalence estimates from 321 peerreviewed studies; 239 were age-standardised, and 159 provided sex-specific data.

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“…Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that occurs among more than 100/10 5 inhabitants in northern Europe (1). In contrast to this, MS is reported to occur seldom in Sami (2, 3), an indigenous population of people from the polar regions of the Nordic countries. The prevalence and characteristics of MS in Sami have not earlier been systematically studied, and causes of the low frequency of MS among Sami are unknown.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In MS both genes and environmental factors contribute to disease pathogenesis but few risk factors have thus far been identified. Among non‐Sami Norwegians the prevalence of MS is reported to be in the range 73–164/10 5 inhabitants (3–7). MS was earlier believed to be nonexisting among the Sami of Norway (3) but in 2000 the first MS patients with a Sami background were reported (2).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low frequency of the disease‐associated DRB115‐DQB106 haplotype may contribute to the low prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Sami

et al. 2007

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This study confirms a low frequency of multiple sclerosis (MS) among Sami. Only 12 Sami with a diagnosis of MS were identified in the Norwegian Sami population, which represents a significantly lower prevalence of MS in Sami (30/10(5)) compared with other Norwegians (73-164/10(5)). The clinical characteristics as well as the results of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1 and -DQB1 typing of the Sami MS patients are reported, showing that three (27%) of the Sami MS patients carried the MS-associated HLA-DRB1*15-DQB1*06 haplotype. Interestingly, the DRB1*15-DQB1*06 haplotype had a significantly reduced frequency among Sami controls (0.086) compared with non-Sami Norwegian controls (0.163) (P(corrected) = 0.015). The low frequency of the disease-associated DRB1*15-DQB1*06 haplotype in the Sami population may contribute to the low prevalence of MS in Sami, in addition to other yet unidentified genetic and environmental factors.

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Multiple sclerosis in the two northernmost counties of Norway

Cited by 48 publications

References 11 publications

The Prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis in the Middle East

The Prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis in the Middle East

Latitude is significantly associated with the prevalence of multiple sclerosis: a meta-analysis

Low frequency of the disease‐associated DRB115‐DQB106 haplotype may contribute to the low prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Sami

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Multiple sclerosis in the two northernmost counties of Norway

Cited by 48 publications

References 11 publications

The Prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis in the Middle East

The Prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis in the Middle East

Latitude is significantly associated with the prevalence of multiple sclerosis: a meta-analysis

Low frequency of the disease‐associated DRB1*15‐DQB1*06 haplotype may contribute to the low prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Sami

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Product

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Low frequency of the disease‐associated DRB115‐DQB106 haplotype may contribute to the low prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Sami