title: Multiple sclerosis in Vest-Agder County, Norway.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine multiple sclerosis (MS) prevalence, rate of immunomodulatory treatment and frequency of Borrelia burgordorferi (Bb) antibodies in Vest-Agder, Norway.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients in the period 1996-2006 who met the Poser criteria for definitive or probable MS were included. Clinical and demographical data, and presence of Bb antibodies were registered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 295 patients were identified. The crude prevalence was 180 per 100,000 population (95% CI=160.9-218.0), age-adjusted prevalence was 186 per 100,000 population (95% CI=166.3-225.3). The age-adjusted incidence rates were 7.5 and 8.0 for 1996-2000 and 2001-2006, respectively. Thirty-eight per cent were treated with immunomodulatory agents when compared to 28% in the rest of the country. Bb serum antibodies were detected in 7% of patients with MS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vest-Agder county has the highest prevalence of MS reported in Norway, and a high treatment rate. Bb antibodies were not more prevalent than in healthy individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Sørlandet Hospital, Kristiansand, Norway. anita.vatne@sshf.no
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vatne
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mygland
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ljøstad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D025065:Borrelia burgdorferi / Q000276:immunology; D015897:Comorbidity / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020852:Lyme Neuroborreliosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D007155:Immunologic Factors