Multiple sclerosis in Australia and New Zealand: are the determinants genetic or environmental?
The prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) has been recently reported from nine regions of Australia and New Zealand. There is a marked variation of prevalence with latitude. MS is seven times more common in southern New Zealand than in tropical Queensland. On current evidence, it is suggested that in both countries this variation is predominantly due to environmental rather than genetic factors.
Miller
D H
DH
Department of Medicine, Wellington School of Medicine, University of Otago, New Zealand.
Hammond
S R
SR
McLeod
J G
JG
Purdie
G
G
Skegg
D C
DC
D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D015802:HLA-DR2 Antigen / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D014329:Tropical Climate
D015802:HLA-DR2 Antigen