EG09
A Comprehensive Review on MS in Iran
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that usually affects young adults. Observations have shown that the prevalence of MS is variable among different populations and geographic areas. Recent studies also mentioned a huge increase of MS incidence and prevalence among Iranians in the last decade.
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to classify clinical features, environmental factors and migration effect on MS in Iranians also to suggest the possible reasons for increasing MS rate among this population.
Methods:
A systematic search of all English language literatures (published in PubMed), about Multiple Sclerosis in Iranians all around the world, from early 1970s until 2014. The keywords used were Multiple sclerosis, Iran and Iranians.
Results:
The initial electronic search identified 367 publications, which most of them were eliminated (due to our time, and language exclusion criteria and repetitive data). Finally, 31 articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria and used as the base of the study.
Conclusions:
Available data shows high incidence and prevalence of MS(mostly Relapsing Remitting form) in Iranians recently with some specific clinical characteristics (high female preponderance…). Certain types of MS such as early onset and Conjugal are frequent but Primary Progressive type and late onset are less common. Beside some associations with infections like EBV, Iranian MS patients have low serum level of Vitamin D. Iranians migrated to the area with higher risk of MS, affected by higher numbers and Parsis (Iranian/Zoroastrians) live in India have higher MS rate (versus other Indians) even after hundred years of their immigration. Genetic and environmental factors related to lifestyle, great migration effect, ethnicity and cultural behaviors like marrying close kin, may be to blame.