BACKGROUND: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are more frequently born in spring when compared to autumn. Fluctuation of UV-light has been hypothesized to drive this phenomenon. AIM: To assess the correlation between fluctuation of sunlight and birth season in persons with MS. METHODS: For this record-linkage study, we collected from the international MSBase and the Italian MS iMed-web databases the dates of birth of 11,415 patients with MS from 36 centres from 15 countries worldwide and compared these to dates of live-births from national registries. From all participating sites, we collected data on UV-light fluctuation and assessed its correlation with seasonal fluctuation in MS births. RESULTS: Compared with the reference cohort, an increased proportion of persons with MS were born in spring and a decreased proportion in autumn (odds ratio (OR) to be born in spring versus autumn = 1.158, χ² = 36.347, P < 0.001). There was no significantly increased fluctuation of MS births with increased quartile of ambient UV-light fluctuation (Ptrend = 0.086). CONCLUSION: Seasonal fluctuation of MS births as found in this worldwide cohort of patients with MS did not correlate with variation in seasonal fluctuation of UV-light. Most likely, it results from a complex interplay between fluctuation of sunlight, behavioural factors, other environmental factors and (epi)genetic factors.
Fluctuations of MS births and UV-light exposure / Verheul, F; Smolders, J; Trojano, M; Lepore, V; Zwanikken, C; Amato, Mp; Grand'Maison, F; Butzkueven, H; Marrosu, M; Duquette, P; Comi, G; Izquierdo, G; Grammond, P; Lus, G; Petersen, T; Bergamaschi, R; Giuliani, G; Boz, C; Coniglio, G; Van Pesch, V; Lechner Scott, J; Cavalla, P; Granella, Franco; Avolio, C; Fiol, M; Poehlau, D; Saladino, Ml; Gallo, P; Deri, N; Oleschko Arruda, W; Paine, M; Ferro, M; Barnett, M; Cabrera Gomez, Ja; Slee, M; Moore, F; Shaw, C; Petkovska Boskova, T; Rutherford, M; Engelsen, O; Damoiseaux, J; Hupperts, R.. - In: ACTA NEUROLOGICA SCANDINAVICA. - ISSN 0001-6314. - 127:5(2013), pp. 301-308.
Fluctuations of MS births and UV-light exposure.
GRANELLA, Franco;
2013-01-01
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are more frequently born in spring when compared to autumn. Fluctuation of UV-light has been hypothesized to drive this phenomenon. AIM: To assess the correlation between fluctuation of sunlight and birth season in persons with MS. METHODS: For this record-linkage study, we collected from the international MSBase and the Italian MS iMed-web databases the dates of birth of 11,415 patients with MS from 36 centres from 15 countries worldwide and compared these to dates of live-births from national registries. From all participating sites, we collected data on UV-light fluctuation and assessed its correlation with seasonal fluctuation in MS births. RESULTS: Compared with the reference cohort, an increased proportion of persons with MS were born in spring and a decreased proportion in autumn (odds ratio (OR) to be born in spring versus autumn = 1.158, χ² = 36.347, P < 0.001). There was no significantly increased fluctuation of MS births with increased quartile of ambient UV-light fluctuation (Ptrend = 0.086). CONCLUSION: Seasonal fluctuation of MS births as found in this worldwide cohort of patients with MS did not correlate with variation in seasonal fluctuation of UV-light. Most likely, it results from a complex interplay between fluctuation of sunlight, behavioural factors, other environmental factors and (epi)genetic factors.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
