Biomaterial Database

The prevalence of multiple sclerosis in the Outer Hebrides compared with north-east Scotland and the Orkney and Shetland Islands. 1981

G Dean, and J Goodall, and A Downie

Multiple sclerosis has been reported to have a high prevalence in the Orkney and Shetland Islands and in Caithness in comparison with the highlands of Scotland and the Outer Hebrides-the Western Isles. For this reason a survey was undertaken in the Outer Hebrides and 25 probable and 30 probable and possible patients with multiple sclerosis were found. This is an increase from eight and 11 respectively found in 1954. The present prevalence rate of 97.3 per 100 000 for probable and possible multiple sclerosis is not significantly different from that found in a recent study in the Grampian region in north-east Scotland. Repeated studies in small populations generally show increasing prevalence of multiple sclerosis because some patients are missed in the earlier studies, and over a long period of time there may also be some increase in survival time. This increase has been found in the Orkney and Shetland Islands, in north-east Scotland, and also in the Outer Hebrides.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009103	Multiple Sclerosis	An autoimmune disorder mainly affecting young adults and characterized by destruction of myelin in the central nervous system. Pathologic findings include multiple sharply demarcated areas of demyelination throughout the white matter of the central nervous system. Clinical manifestations include visual loss, extra-ocular movement disorders, paresthesias, loss of sensation, weakness, dysarthria, spasticity, ataxia, and bladder dysfunction. The usual pattern is one of recurrent attacks followed by partial recovery (see MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, RELAPSING-REMITTING), but acute fulminating and chronic progressive forms (see MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, CHRONIC PROGRESSIVE) also occur. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p903)	MS (Multiple Sclerosis),Multiple Sclerosis, Acute Fulminating,Sclerosis, Disseminated,Disseminated Sclerosis,Sclerosis, Multiple
D005260	Female		Females
D006113	United Kingdom	Country in northwestern Europe including Great Britain and the northern one-sixth of the island of Ireland, located between the North Sea and north Atlantic Ocean. The capital is London.	Great Britain,Isle of Man
D006363	Hebrides	A group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean west of Scotland, comprising the Outer Hebrides and the Inner Hebrides.
D006680	HLA Antigens	Antigens determined by leukocyte loci found on chromosome 6, the major histocompatibility loci in humans. They are polypeptides or glycoproteins found on most nucleated cells and platelets, determine tissue types for transplantation, and are associated with certain diseases.	Human Leukocyte Antigen,Human Leukocyte Antigens,Leukocyte Antigens,HL-A Antigens,Antigen, Human Leukocyte,Antigens, HL-A,Antigens, HLA,Antigens, Human Leukocyte,Antigens, Leukocyte,HL A Antigens,Leukocyte Antigen, Human,Leukocyte Antigens, Human
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D012606	Scotland	The most northerly of the four countries of the United Kingdom, occupying about one-third of the island of Great Britain. The capital is Edinburgh.