[Prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Colombia].
BACKGROUND
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the commonest demyelinating condition of the nervous system. It is characterized by numerous demyelinating areas or plaques of demyelination which are found dispersed throughout the nervous system. It has been shown that MS is less frequent in tropical regions than in subtropical regions. In Latin America particularly, there are some studies which show this phenomenon. However, in Colombia no studies of prevalence of MS have been done.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of multiple sclerosis in five provinces of Colombia (Antioquia, Caldas, Santander, Risaralda and Bolivar).


METHODS
The capture-recapture method was used for two sources to determine the number of cases defined on the criteria of Poser et al seen between July 1995 and June 2000.


RESULTS
The prevalence (cases of MS per 100,000 inhabitants) varied between 1.48 in Antioquia (95% CI 1.12; 1.78) and 4.98 in Risaralda (95% CI 3.52; 6.43). Seventy two percent were women. The regions included in this study represented 25% of the population of Colombia.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a low prevalence of MS which is as expected in tropical areas. Persons with MS in these regions may be very useful in the study of other factors involved in the aetiology of MS (genetic). The capture-recapture method is an excellent tool for carrying out prevalence studies since it is cheap and requires little time.
Sánchez
J L
JL
Instituto Neurológico de Antioquia, Colombian Committee for Treatment and Research on Multiple Sclerosis (COCTRIMS), Colombia. ineurolo@epm.net.co
Aguirre
C
C
Arcos-Burgos
O M
OM
Jiménez
I
I
Jiménez
M
M
León
F
F
Pareja
J
J
Pradilla
G
G
Uribe
B
B
Uribe
C S
CS
Villa
A
A
Volcy
M
M
Palacio
L G
LG
D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015340:Epidemiologic Research Design; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D014329:Tropical Climate
Prevalencia de la esclerosis múltiple en Colombia.