title: Association between anemia and multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The relationship between multiple sclerosis (MS) and anemia has not been clarified sufficiently. In this retrospective, cross-sectional, case-control study we evaluated in MS patients: (1) prevalence of anemia relative to sex- and age-matched controls; (2) relationships between patients' demographic, clinical and drug-related characteristics and anemia; (3) effect of anemia on the risk of developing MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  187 consecutive MS patients (51 males, mean age (±SD) 44.5 ± 10.7 years) and 200 controls (56 males, mean age 45.5 ± 12 years) were included in the study. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin <12 g/dl for females and <13 g/dl for males.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant difference in the prevalence of anemia between MS patients and controls (35 (18.7%) and 19 (9.5%), respectively, p = 0.009). We did not find any association between patients' characteristics and anemia. The occurrence of anemia increased more than twice the risk of developing MS (odds ratio: 2.19, 95% confidence interval 1.19-4.0).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study showed a consistent association between anemia and MS.
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koudriavtseva
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Renna
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Plantone
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mandoj
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Piattella
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Giannarelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk