High nationwide incidence of multiple sclerosis in Sweden.

Over recent years increased MS incidence, primarily in women, has been reported. We recently reported an unexpectedly high MS prevalence of 189/100,000 in Sweden. In the present study we estimated the nationwide age- and gender-specific MS incidence and the sex ratio in Sweden between 2001 and 2008.

Serum and CSF measles antibody levels increase over time in patients with multiple sclerosis or clinically isolated syndrome.

In general, measles virus (MV) immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody titres decline over time. However, we found that serum and CSF MV antibody titres increased with age (slope=0.038, p<0.

A nationwide survey of the prevalence of multiple sclerosis in immigrant populations of Sweden.

Background: In 2008, immigrants constituted 14% of the population of Sweden, a high-risk area for multiple sclerosis (MS). We investigated the largest Swedish immigrant populations for the prevalence of MS.

Method: Data on foreign-born MS patients were retrieved from Swedish national health and population registers.

The effect of live, attenuated measles vaccine and measles infection on measles antibody levels in serum and CSF of patients with multiple sclerosis or clinically isolated syndrome.

High occurrence of measles, rubella and varicella zoster antibodies has been used as a biomarker for MS (the MRZ test). We analyzed measles antibody titres with respect to measles infection/measles vaccination status in 166 patients with MS or clinically isolated syndrome. Fifty blood donors served as controls.

A population-based case-control study on viral infections and vaccinations and subsequent multiple sclerosis risk.

Viral infections are probably involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). A recent cohort study in the Gothenburg population revealed no change in MS incidence associated with the introduction of the Swedish measles, mumps and rubella vaccination programmes. The aim of the present study was to clarify whether these infections or vaccinations, and two other infections, varicella and infectious mononucleosis, influence MS risk.

No major birth order effect on the risk of multiple sclerosis.

In the present study, we found no association between multiple sclerosis (MS; definite and probable, n = 211) and birth order (p = 0.1411). The observed number of first-born patients did not differ significantly from the expected number (p = 0.