Incidence of multiple sclerosis in Dijon, France: A population-based ascertainment

Incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) was prospectively determined within th e population of the city of Dijon (94,000 inhabitants under 60 years old) a t 47 degrees northern latitude, in Burgundy, France. All the incident cases were diagnosed according to the criteria of Poser, associated to the study of cerebrospinal fluid, evoked potentials and cerebral magnetic resonance imaging. Diagnosis was assessed in all the cases by a neurologist working e ither in the University Hospital (four neurologists) or in private offices (seven neurologists). The ascertainment was peformed on a full 5-year perio d, from 1993 to 1997. Twenty-one cases were diagnosed in the population of 94,000 inhabitants, with an incidence of 6.1/100,000/year in women, 3.3/100 ,000/year in men and 4.3/100,000/year in both sexes. The sex-ratio female/m ale was 2.5. Our data are similar to those of the literature, in particular in countries around the Burgundy area. Our data allow evaluation of the bu rden of MS in our area and allow evaluation of the changes of incidence in the future.