title: Is multiple sclerosis in Brazil and Asia alike?
abstract: The clinical picture of 67 consecutive patients with definite multiple sclerosis in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, was analysed. There were 20 patients with the predominant optic-spinal form of the disease and eight with Devic's disease. Visual loss occurred in 43% of the cases as the presenting symptom and in 84% in the course of the illness. Symptoms related to spinal cord and cerebellar involvement were observed in 64% and 52% respectively. The high prevalence of visual and spinal abnormalities at onset and during the course of the illness, the lesser common involvement of the cerebellum and the relative frequency of Devic's disease make multiple sclerosis in Brazil similar to that observed in Eastern countries in distinction to the clinical pattern seen in the United States and Europe.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Federal University of Minas Gerais Medical School, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lana-Peixoto
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Lana-Peixoto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001210:Asia, Southeastern / Q000453:epidemiology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology