COMPARISON BETWEEN MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS IN INDIA AND THE UNITED-STATES - A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

The prevalence of MS in India is low, and it is unclear whether the ma nifestations of the disease in India are similar to the United States. We carried out a case-control study to compare the disease in the two populations and used clinical, evoked potential, and MRI criteria to assess similarities and differences. Our results indicate that the rat e of disease progression and frequency of involvement of the cerebral hemispheres, cerebellum, spinal cord, and brainstem were similar in th e two populations. The visual system was more frequently involved in I ndian patients. No Indian patient had a family history of MS; this sug gests an environmental disease-triggering agent.