Examining the contributions of environmental quality to pediatric multiple sclerosis.
Mult Scler Relat Disord
; 18: 164-169, 2017 Nov.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29141802
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a presumed autoimmune disease caused by genetic and environmental factors. It is hypothesized that environmental exposures (such as air and water quality) trigger the innate immune response thereby activating a pro-inflammatory cascade.OBJECTIVE:
To examine potential environmental factors in pediatric MS using geographic information systems (GIS).METHODS:
Pediatric MS cases and healthy controls were identified as part of an ongoing multicenter case-control study. Subjects' geographic locations were mapped by county centroid to compare to an Environmental Quality Index (EQI). The EQI examines 5 individual environmental components (air, land, water, social, built factors). A composite EQI score and individual scores were compared between cases and controls, stratified by median proximity to enrollment centers (residence <20 or ≥20 miles from the recruiting center), using logistic regression.RESULTS:
Of the 287 MS cases and 445 controls, 46% and 49% respectively live in areas where the total EQI is the highest (worst environmental quality). Total EQI was not significantly associated with the odds for MS (p = 0.90 < 20 miles from center; p = 0.43 ≥ 20 miles); however, worsening air quality significantly impacted the odds for MS in those living near a referral center (OR = 2.83; 95%CI 1.5, 5.4) and those who reside ≥ 20 miles from a referral center (OR = 1.61; 95%CI 1.2, 2.3).CONCLUSION:
Among environmental factors, air quality may contribute to the odds of developing MS in a pediatric population. Future studies will examine specific air constituents and other location-based air exposures and explore potential mechanisms for immune activation by these exposures.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Environmental Exposure
/
Multiple Sclerosis
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
/
Diagnostic_studies
/
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Journal:
Mult Scler Relat Disord
Year:
2017
Document type:
Article
Publication country:
HOLANDA
/
HOLLAND
/
NETHERLANDS
/
NL
/
PAISES BAJOS
/
THE NETHERLANDS