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Epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in the pediatric population of Sardinia, Italy

Silvia Dell'Avvento1, Maria Alessandra Sotgiu2, Salvatorica Manca3

  • 1Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Child Neuropsychiatry, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy. silviagem85@hotmail.it.

European Journal of Pediatrics
|July 10, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric multiple sclerosis (pMS) incidence in northern Sardinia is significantly higher than global averages. This study reveals high pMS and clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) prevalence in Sardinian children.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Epidemiology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system.
  • Sardinia has one of the highest adult MS risks globally, but pediatric data were lacking.
  • Pediatric MS (pMS) affects children and adolescents, with limited epidemiological data available worldwide.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To estimate the incidence and prevalence of pediatric MS (pMS) in northern Sardinia.
  • To assess pMS and clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) rates in the pediatric population (0-18 years).

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective study analyzing cases from January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2012.
  • Inclusion criteria: diagnosis of optic neuritis, myelitis, ADEM, demyelinating disorders, MS, or CIS according to McDonald criteria with disease onset between 0-18 years.
  • Calculation of annual mean incidence and prevalence per 100,000 pediatric population.

Main Results:

  • 21 cases of pMS and 5 cases of CIS were identified in northern Sardinia.
  • The annual mean pMS incidence was 2.85 per 100,000 pediatric population.
  • The pMS and CIS prevalence on December 31, 2012, was 26.92 and 6.41 per 100,000, respectively.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric MS incidence in Sardinia is significantly higher than reported globally.
  • The findings corroborate the high MS risk observed in the adult Sardinian population.
  • Sardinia exhibits among the highest pediatric MS prevalence rates worldwide.

Keywords:
ChildrenClinically isolated syndromeIncidenceMultiple sclerosisPrevalenceSardinia

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