Original

Seasonal variations in the outbreaks in patients with multiple sclerosis

J. Abella-Corral, J.M. Prieto, D. Dapena-Bolaño, S. Iglesias-Gómez, M. Noya-García, M. Lema [REV NEUROL 2005;40:394-396] PMID: 15849671 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33588/rn.4007.2004399

OPEN ACCESS

Volumen 40 | Number 07 | Nº of views of the article 7.068 | Nº of PDF downloads 945 | Article publication date 01/04/2005

Download PDF Castellano Citation Search in PubMed

Share in:

Go to another issue

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION It has been suggested that there is an environmental factor at play in the aetiology and pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) that acts as an essential component of the disease process, and a number of studies also point to a relationship between the seasons of the year and the appearance of outbreaks. AIMS. Our aim was to study the possible relation between seasonal variations and the appearance of outbreaks in patients with relapsing-remitting forms of MS.

PATIENTS AND METHODS We studied 31 patients over the period between 1997 and 2002 and calculated the monthly and quarterly rate of incidence of outbreaks. The statistical evaluation of the results was performed by applying the Chi-squared test.

RESULTS We observed a higher incidence of outbreaks in the summer months (more in June) and a lower incidence in winter (less in December), with statistically significant differences.

CONCLUSIONS In our patients, outbreaks of MS are related to seasonal variations, with a higher number in the warmer months and fewer in the colder months. KeywordsEnvironmental factors Multiple sclerosis Outbreak Seasonal variations CategoriesEsclerosis múltiple

FULL TEXT (solo disponible en lengua castellana / Only available in Spanish)

Acceso directo al último número

Último Podcast

Original

Seasonal variations in the outbreaks in patients with multiple sclerosis