Deck 50: Epidemiology of Multiple Sclerosis

Question 1

Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune inflammatory disease in which the myelin sheaths surrounding the axons of neurons (nerve cells) are damaged or destroyed, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Since almost any neurological symptom can appear in patients with multiple sclerosis, other conditions must be ruled out in reaching the diagnosis.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Worldwide, there are more than 2 million people living with multiple sclerosis.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

The annual prevalence of multiple sclerosis ranges from 1 to 176 per 100,000 among populations with a median value of about 30 per 100,000.

Question 5

The annual incidence of multiple sclerosis ranges from 1 to 290 per million among populations with a median value of 25 per million.

Question 6

Life expectancy in patients with multiple sclerosis is reduced by about 10 years compared to the general population.

Question 7

Suicide rates in cohorts of patients with multiple sclerosis are similar to rates in corresponding general populations.

Question 8

Multiple sclerosis is characterized by disruptions in the blood-brain barrier, inflammatory gliosis, and demyelination and death of neurons.

Question 9

The concordance of multiple sclerosis in dizygotic twins is similar to that in monozygotic twins.

Question 10

Vitamin D supplementation may have chemopreventive/therapeutic benefit against development/progression of multiple sclerosis.

Question 11

Approximately how many people suffer from multiple sclerosis in the world population?

A) 1 million
B) 2 million
C) 3 million
D) 4 million

Question 12

The median annual prevalence of multiple sclerosis is approximately:

A) 10 cases per million.
B) 25 cases per million.
C) 30 cases per 100,000.
D) 100 cases per 100,000.

Question 13

The median annual incidence rate of multiple sclerosis is approximately:

A) 10 cases per million.
B) 25 cases per million.
C) 30 cases per 100,000.
D) 100 cases per 100,000.

Question 14

Compared to the general population, the average life expectancy among patients with multiple sclerosis is decreased by about:

A) 5 years.
B) 10 years.
C) 15 years.
D) 20 years.

Question 15

Compared to the general population, what is the risk of suicide among patients with multiple sclerosis?

A) Suicide risks are similar.
B) Suicide risk is increased by about 50%.
C) Suicide risk is increased nearly 2-fold.
D) Suicide risk is increased 10-fold.

Question 16

Risk factors for multiple sclerosis include all of the following except:

A) genetic predisposition.
B) active EBV infection.
C) Borreliosis.
D) living near the equator.

Question 17

The concordance of multiple sclerosis among monozygous twins is approximately:

A) 10%.
B) 20%.
C) 50%.
D) 100%.

Question 18

Which of the following factors has been found to have chemopreventive effects against the development of multiple sclerosis?

A) Vaccination against influenza
B) Dietary supplementation with folic acid
C) Dietary supplementation with Vitamin D
D) Increasing intake of omega-3 fatty acids

Question 19

Define multiple sclerosis and discuss criteria for its diagnosis.

Question 20

Characterize the global distribution of multiple sclerosis.

Question 21

Describe characteristic pathologic features of multiple sclerosis.

Question 22

Characterize the case fatality and risk of suicide among patients with multiple sclerosis.

Question 23

Discuss infectious agents that have been found in association with the development of multiple sclerosis.

Question 24

Discuss findings of studies of vitamin D and multiple sclerosis.

Question 25

Discuss the known risk factors for multiple sclerosis.

Question 26

Discuss prospects for improving the treatment of multiple sclerosis.