Seasonal Variation Effect on Multiple Sclerosis Activity in Patients Attending Multiple Sclerosis Clinic in Baghdad Teaching Hospital.

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis is an immune mediated demyelinating disease of the central nervous system characterized by bouts of neurologic symptoms (or relapses) and increasing disability. The aim of this study is to elucidate the influence of seasonal variation on the nature and number of relapses in patients already diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. A cross- sectional retrospective study was carried out from January to May 2011 in Multiple Sclerosis clinic of neurological department in Baghdad Teaching hospital , including 100 relapsing- remitting multiple sclerosis patients ( 26 males and 74 females ) with 278 relapses who were registered over 5 years interval (2005-2010) ,data collected by reviewing patients records and analyzed statistically . Patients younger than 40 years significantly constitute 76%.of the sample. The largest percentages (14%) of patients were born on July. The total number of relapses was 278 distributed as 218 in females and 60 in males, the proportion of relapses in both sexes (73.7%) were higher in patients younger than 40 years. Regarding the pattern of multiple sclerosis relapses; the highest percentage (29.8%) was of sensory type. The peak of multiple sclerosis relapses was evident during January and April, with higher percentage (31.2%) in females during Spring .there was no significant differences in the proportion of relapses (29.1%, 34.7%) during Spring in both age groups and there was no relation between the type of relapse and season of occurrence. Conclusion: There is some seasonal effect on multiple sclerosis relapses, they were higher in Spring, and lower in Summer. Key Wards: multiple sclerosis, relapse, season.