Contributions
Abstract: P855
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - 3 Paediatric MS
Background: There is very limited information about the potential associations of MS and commonly used environmental toxic agents.
Objective: To explore the potential relationships between pediatric-onset MS and environmental toxic exposures during childhood.
Methods: We analyzed data from an ongoing case-control study to evaluate potential associations between MS onset before age 18 and history of exposure to common environmental toxic substances during childhood (age 1-16). Exposure during pregnancy and under one year of age is excluded as we have previously reported increased risk of MS and environmental exposures in pregnancy, perinantal period and children less than one year of age. Exposures to environmental toxins were collected from a comprehensive questionnaire completed by parents at the time of enrollment in the study. Cases included children diagnosed with MS or clinically isolated syndrome with at least 2 silent T2 bright lesions on MRI recruited prospectively within 4 years of disease onset from 16 pediatric MS clinics in the USA. Case status was confirmed by a panel of 3 pediatric MS specialists. Controls were enrolled at various pediatric clinics at the same institutions. Multivariate analyses using logistic regression were adjusted for possible confounders including age, sex, race, ethnicity and mother's highest level of education.
Results: Questionnaire responses were available for 326 eligible cases (median age 15.7 years, 64% girls) and 506 healthy controls (median age 15.0, 57% girls). Among multiple environmental toxins, exposure to rodenticides and pesticides (odds ratio [OR] 1.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.29-2.97, p=0.0016), weed agents (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.30-2.68, p=0.0007), products for plant/tree disease control (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.19-3.46, p=0.0095) indoor foggers and products for insect control (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.15-3.03, p=0.0118)- during childhood - were significantly associated with an increased risk for pediatric-onset MS in adjusted analyses.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the exposure to some environmental products during early childhood is associated with the risk of developing pediatric-onset MS. Future research will validate these findings.
Disclosure: Soe Mar and all other authors: No disclosure relevant to the abstract content
Source of Funding: R01 NS71463, PI Waubant
Abstract: P855
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - 3 Paediatric MS
Background: There is very limited information about the potential associations of MS and commonly used environmental toxic agents.
Objective: To explore the potential relationships between pediatric-onset MS and environmental toxic exposures during childhood.
Methods: We analyzed data from an ongoing case-control study to evaluate potential associations between MS onset before age 18 and history of exposure to common environmental toxic substances during childhood (age 1-16). Exposure during pregnancy and under one year of age is excluded as we have previously reported increased risk of MS and environmental exposures in pregnancy, perinantal period and children less than one year of age. Exposures to environmental toxins were collected from a comprehensive questionnaire completed by parents at the time of enrollment in the study. Cases included children diagnosed with MS or clinically isolated syndrome with at least 2 silent T2 bright lesions on MRI recruited prospectively within 4 years of disease onset from 16 pediatric MS clinics in the USA. Case status was confirmed by a panel of 3 pediatric MS specialists. Controls were enrolled at various pediatric clinics at the same institutions. Multivariate analyses using logistic regression were adjusted for possible confounders including age, sex, race, ethnicity and mother's highest level of education.
Results: Questionnaire responses were available for 326 eligible cases (median age 15.7 years, 64% girls) and 506 healthy controls (median age 15.0, 57% girls). Among multiple environmental toxins, exposure to rodenticides and pesticides (odds ratio [OR] 1.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.29-2.97, p=0.0016), weed agents (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.30-2.68, p=0.0007), products for plant/tree disease control (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.19-3.46, p=0.0095) indoor foggers and products for insect control (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.15-3.03, p=0.0118)- during childhood - were significantly associated with an increased risk for pediatric-onset MS in adjusted analyses.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the exposure to some environmental products during early childhood is associated with the risk of developing pediatric-onset MS. Future research will validate these findings.
Disclosure: Soe Mar and all other authors: No disclosure relevant to the abstract content
Source of Funding: R01 NS71463, PI Waubant