Familial clustering of multiple sclerosis in a northern Swedish rural district. Issue 4 (April 1994)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Binzer, M; Forsgren, L; Holmgren, G; Drugge, U; Fredrikson, S
• Is Part Of: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry. Volume 57:Issue 4(1994)
• Page Start: 497
• Page End: 499
• Publication Date: 1994-04
• Subjects: Neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.57.4.497
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3050

Abstract

Abstract : A small rural district in the most northerly province of Sweden was found to have a very high occurrence of multiple sclerosis. A total of 12 patients with multiple sclerosis among 4744 inhabitants were identified (five females, seven males), corresponding to a prevalence of 253/100, 000. Many of the patients were related and a further 21 cases with multiple sclerosis (14 females, seven males), mostly living in the neighbouring area, have family ties to the district. A genealogical investigation showed that 22 of the 33 patients identified had ties of kinship and thus, to our knowledge, the largest aggregation of multiple sclerosis in a family is presented.