Students:
Asil Khalid Jbara
Iba’a Raeq Saidi
Manal Abedrabboh Ishtayah
Supervisor
Dr. Mustafa Ghanim
Program
Biomedical Sciences
Abstract
Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is considered as multifactorial disease that includes a genetic predisposition combined with multiple environmental influences, no studies focused on the familial cases and possible role of parental consanguinity (PC) in Palestine.
Objectives: The goal of this study were to assess the proportion of familial MS (FMS) cases, compare FMS to sporadic MS (SMS) in risk factors clinical presentation and demographic characteristics, estimate proportion of PC among MS patients, and to compare MS patients with PC to MS patients with no PC in the Palestinian population.
Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional with a convenient sample of 90 with SMS and 31 FMS was used in this study. Data were obtained from Neurology clinics using a self-administered questionnaire. Data was analyzed using SPSS 22, to assess the proportions FMS and SMS in relation to different variables.
Results: A relative excess of male in the FMS group compared with non-FMS was found. Almost one third of patients in both groups had PC in their history. The mean age of onset was the same among both groups and almost all patients of the two groups had another attack of MS. About risk factors; almost one fourth of patients in both groups were smokers and almost all patients were nonalcoholic before diagnosis. Almost one fourth of patients in both groups were infected with specific viruses. The initial symptom(s); among both groups did not differ virtually.
Conclusion: Prevalence of FMS was high in Palestine. The PC is nearly the same between both groups. There were no significant differences in demographics, risk factors and disabilities between both groups. The disease pattern of was the same between both groups.
