Prevalence of multiple sclerosis in gypsies and Bulgarians

There are occasional reports about the low prevalence of multiple sclerosis among Gypsies. To verify these reports of low prevalence of multiple scler osis among Gypsies compared to the white population in Bulgaria, an epidemi ological study was conducted in two small regions of Bulgaria, All patients with clinically or laboratory-supported, definite multiple sclerosis accor ding to Poser's criteria were personally interviewed and examined. The stud y was begun on January 1, 1997 and March 31, 1998 was selected as prevalenc e day. For the white population, the prevalence ratio of multiple sclerosis per 100,000 population was 44.9 in the first region and 44.4 in the second . The prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Gypsies was found to be 19.1/100, 000 in the first region and 18.4 in the second. It is concluded that multip le sclerosis is less common in Gypsies than in whites living in the same ar eas.