title: The association between cigarette smoking and multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Genetic factors partially explain the susceptibility of multiple sclerosis (MS) and might even relate to the clinical course. Still, many epidemiological studies point at an important role for environmental factors in MS. Smoking is one of the major candidates. In this review we provide an overview of the epidemiological studies on cigarette smoking and the association on MS risk and MS clinical course. In addition, we discuss the possible biological pathways that may influence neurological damage in MS. Moreover, the relation of smoking with other environmental MS risk factors will be addressed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, ErasMS, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. n.jafari@erasmusmc.nl
authors.forename: Naghmeh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jafari
authors.forename: Rogier Q
authors.initials: RQ
authors.lastname: Hintzen
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants