{"title":"Clinical and Demographic Characteristics of Immigrant and Local Multiple Sclerosis Patients in Turkey.","authors":"Belgin Petek Balcı, Ezgi Bakırcıoğlu Duman, Cansu Tunç, Birgül Baştan Tüzün, Özlem Çokar","doi":"10.29399/npa.28078","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Increasing migration, due to wars, is one of the environmental factors in the etiology of multiple sclerosis. This study aims to compare demographic and clinical features of immigrant and local MS patients, as well as relapses during pregnancy and postpartum in female patients.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Immigrant (Group 1) and local (Group 2) MS patients were evaluated between January 2019 - September 2020 retrospectively. Below-mentioned data of two groups were recorded and compared: i) demographic data, ii) cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, iii) MS subtypes, iv) expanded disability status scores (EDSS), v) the time between first two relapses, vi) comorbidities, vii) treatment, viii) age of migration and country of origin, ix) pregnancy, x) relapse during pregnancy, xi) birth number, xii) breastfeeding, xiii) postpartum relapses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Both of the groups were composed of 34 MS patients (in total n=68). Gender distribution, mean age, MS subtypes, the time between first two relapses, disease duration, EDSS, CSF findings and comorbidities were similar between groups. Symptom of onset was predominantly sensory in both groups. Local patients had more cervical lesions and higher lesion load (p=0.003, p=0.006). 20.6% of migrant MS patients were untreated, all local patients were on treatment. Rates of injection and infusion therapies were similar, the rate of receiving oral therapy was higher in the second group. Clinical features and fertility status of female patients were similar.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>According to the study no differences were preseentpresent between immigrant and local MS patients except for MRI lesion load and treatment parameters. The language barrier and irregular follow-ups were the major problems in treatment management.</p>","PeriodicalId":51142,"journal":{"name":"Noropsikiyatri Arsivi-Archives of Neuropsychiatry","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0000,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10242286/pdf/archneuro-60-104.pdf","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Noropsikiyatri Arsivi-Archives of Neuropsychiatry","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.29399/npa.28078","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"CLINICAL NEUROLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction: Increasing migration, due to wars, is one of the environmental factors in the etiology of multiple sclerosis. This study aims to compare demographic and clinical features of immigrant and local MS patients, as well as relapses during pregnancy and postpartum in female patients.
Method: Immigrant (Group 1) and local (Group 2) MS patients were evaluated between January 2019 - September 2020 retrospectively. Below-mentioned data of two groups were recorded and compared: i) demographic data, ii) cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, iii) MS subtypes, iv) expanded disability status scores (EDSS), v) the time between first two relapses, vi) comorbidities, vii) treatment, viii) age of migration and country of origin, ix) pregnancy, x) relapse during pregnancy, xi) birth number, xii) breastfeeding, xiii) postpartum relapses.
Results: Both of the groups were composed of 34 MS patients (in total n=68). Gender distribution, mean age, MS subtypes, the time between first two relapses, disease duration, EDSS, CSF findings and comorbidities were similar between groups. Symptom of onset was predominantly sensory in both groups. Local patients had more cervical lesions and higher lesion load (p=0.003, p=0.006). 20.6% of migrant MS patients were untreated, all local patients were on treatment. Rates of injection and infusion therapies were similar, the rate of receiving oral therapy was higher in the second group. Clinical features and fertility status of female patients were similar.
Conclusion: According to the study no differences were preseentpresent between immigrant and local MS patients except for MRI lesion load and treatment parameters. The language barrier and irregular follow-ups were the major problems in treatment management.
期刊介绍:
Archives of Neuropsychiatry (Arch Neuropsychiatry) is the official journal of the Turkish Neuropsychiatric Society. It is published quarterly, and four editions annually constitute a volume.
Archives of Neuropsychiatry is a peer reviewed scientific journal that publishes articles on psychiatry, neurology, and behavioural sciences. Both clinical and basic science contributions are welcomed. Submissions that address topics in the interface of neurology and psychiatry are encouraged. The content covers original research articles, reviews, letters to the editor, and case reports.