Highlights
- •Latin America is a low-medium MS prevalence region.
- •Local genetic and environmental factors contribute to the lower prevalence of MS.
- •Prevalence and incidence of MS are increasing in Latin America.
- •MS phenotype is similar in Latin American patients compared to Caucasian patients.
- •Female-to-male ratio is increasing in Latin American MS patients.
Abstract
Background
Literature regarding MS epidemiology and phenotype is scarce but has increased markedly
over the past years. The objective of the present work is to assess the evolution
of the prevalence and phenotype of MS in Latin America during recent years.
Methods
Review of literature.
Results
MS prevalence levels are low to medium in Latin America, although these have increased
in recent years. A small latitudinal gradient has also been observed, but exceptions
to this rule exist, suggesting other genetic and environmental factors ultimately
influence regional prevalence rates. One of the distinctive features of the region
is the complex genetic admixture arising from multiple divergent population ancestries
in different countries including: Native Americans, Caucasians and Africans. Another
variable which would lower MS risk in the region could be a protective effect linked
to exposure to certain infections, such as parasites. Despite differences in MS epidemiology,
Latin American patients show an MS phenotype very similar to that of Caucasian patients,
and a progressively increasing female gender ratio as has been described worldwide.
Conclusion
MS epidemiology in Latin American patients has distinctive features. Both, prevalence
and incidence, are increasing.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 22, 2018
Accepted:
March 20,
2018
Received in revised form:
February 17,
2018
Received:
January 4,
2018
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
