Familial versus sporadic multiple sclerosis in Palestine: a retrospective cross-sectional pilot study

Abstract

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a prevalent multifactorial neurological condition caused by hereditary and environmental factors. No research in Palestine has focused on family instances and the likely influence of paternal consanguinity (PC). In this study, researchers evaluated numerous risk variables, clinical course, early symptoms, and disability prevalence in familial MS (FMS) cases and sporadic MS (SMS) cases in the Palestinian community. Methods: A suitable sample of 90 SMS and 31 FMS patients was used in a retrospective cross-sectional analysis. Neurology clinics provided the data. Data were examined using IBM SPSS 22 to compare FMS with SMS in numerous risk factors, clinical course, early symptoms, and disability prevalence. Results: The research included 90 SMS instances and 31 FMS cases. Males developed FMS at a higher rate (45.2 %) than females (35 %) in the SMS group. In contrast, more females (64.4 %) had SMS than men (54.8 %) in the FMS group. However, ladies were more likely than men to have any MS. Parental consanguinity was identified in around 40% of the SMS and FMS groups. The mean age of onset was the same in both groups (28.5 in SMS and 27.26 in FMS), and practically all patients in both groups had recurrent MS episodes. There is no statistically significant difference between SMS and FMS regarding risk factors and lifestyle variables. Only within the SMS was the occurrence of autoimmune disorders mentioned. Within the two groups, the relapsing-remitting clinical course predominates. The proportion of first presenting symptoms and impairments did not differ substantially between the SMS and FMS. Conclusion: There were no significant variations between SMS and FMS regarding demographics, risk factors, disability, clinical course, and PC.