[Tobacco smoking in patients with multiple sclerosis--preliminary study]

Muliple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disorder of autoimmune origin, affecting young people. The aim of our study was to evaluate the tobacco smoking in the patients with MS in the period of beginning the disease. The study included 58 MS patients (31 females, 27 males, mean +/- SD: age 32.15 +/- 6.28) with varying degrees of severity and types of MS (A. RRMS relapsing- remitting MS, B. SPMS - secondary-progressive MS and C. PPMS primary - progressive MS). Smoking status was determined by medical history and Fagerström test. In the examined group 38 (65.51%) persons were tobacco smokers, among them 21 (55.26%) females and 17 (44.74%) males. This preliminary analysis needs further thorough studies, f.e. the urine level of cotinine - as a main marker of tobacco smoking in MS patients.