Seasonal distribution and evolving forms of multiple sclerosis patients diagnosed from April 2004 to November 2007.
BACKGROUND
Multiple sclerosis (MS) was first reported in Cuba in 1965. The most frequent appearance is observed in the first six months of the year.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the seasonal distribution and evolving forms of MS patients diagnosed with the disease between April 2004 and November 2007.


METHODS
Twenty-one patients with suspected MS and 42 outbreaks were studied. Patients were classified according to Lublin and Revingold's criteria for clinical forms and according to McDonald.


RESULTS
Most patients were classified in outbreak and remission and only two patients classified as primary-progressive multiple sclerosis. The higher number of outbreaks occurred in the first two quarters of the year.


CONCLUSIONS
It is recommended to study further weather variables that may be related to the emergence of these outbreaks in our environment.
Fundora-Hernández
Hermes
H
Laboratorio Central de Líquido Cefalorraquídeo, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas Dr. Miguel enríquez, Instituto Superior de Ciencias Médicas de La Habana, Cuba. hermes.fundora@infomed.sld.cu
Dorta-Contreras
Alberto J
AJ
Socias-López
Maray
M
Fraga-Santana
Silvana
S
Villatoro-Rodríguez
Silvia Nicté
SN
Padilla-Docal
Bárbara
B
Noris-García
Elena
E
Bu-Coifiu-Fanego
Raisa
R
González-Hernández
Marlén
M
D003462:Cuba / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000453:epidemiology*; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012621:Seasons