Disability and progression in Afro-descendant patients with multiple sclerosis

• Published in: Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria 2016-10, Vol.74 (10), p.836-841
• Main Authors: Aurenção, Juliana Calvet Kallenbach, Vasconcelos, Claudia Cristina Ferreira, Thuler, Luiz Claudio Santos, Alvarenga, Regina Maria Papais
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: African Continental Ancestry Group; Disability Evaluation; disability, Afro-descent; Disease Progression; Female; Humans; Male; multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis - ethnology; Multiple Sclerosis - pathology; Multiple Sclerosis - physiopathology; NEUROSCIENCES; Prognosis; PSYCHIATRY; Risk Factors; Severity of Illness Index; VIEW AND REVIEW
• ISSN: 0004-282X; 1678-4227; 1678-4227; 0004-282X
• DOI: 10.1590/0004-282X20160118

ABSTRACT Multiple sclerosis (MS) prevalence is higher in Caucasian (CA) populations, narrowing the analysis of the impact of Afro-descendant (AD) populations in disease outcomes. Even so, recent studies observed that AD patients have a more severe course. The main objective of this study is to confirm and discuss, through a systematic review, that being AD is a risk factor for disability accumulation and/or severe progression in patients with MS. A systematic review of published data in the last eleven years was performed, which evaluated clinical aspects and long term disability in patients with MS. Fourteen studies were included. Of these fourteen articles, thirteen observed a relationship between ancestry and poorer outcome of MS. African ancestry is a condition inherent in the patient and should be considered as an initial clinical characteristic affecting prognosis, and influencing which therapeutic decision to make in initial phases.