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- Title
Fluctuations of MS births and UV-light exposure.
- Authors
Verheul, F.; Smolders, J.; Trojano, M.; Lepore, V.; Zwanikken, C.; Amato, M. P.; 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.; Pesch, V.
- 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.
- Subjects
MULTIPLE sclerosis; SEASON of birth; ULTRAVIOLET radiation; MEDICAL registries; LINKAGE (Genetics); COHORT analysis; EPIGENETICS
- Publication
Acta Neurologica Scandinavica, 2013, Vol 127, Issue 5, p301
- ISSN
0001-6314
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/ane.12007