Contributions
Abstract: 51
Type: Oral
Australia and New Zealand have made strong contributions to studies of MS prevalence and phenotype evolution, in particular latitudinal effects. In Australia and New Zealand, the latitudinal gradient of MS incidence is very strong and can be studied in ancestrally Northern European populations to exclude genetic incidence variation. Thus, many studies have demonstrated the existence of a true Incidence and prevalence gradient with lower incidence and prevalence in the more equatorial regions. The effect is very strong, with a seven-fold prevalence reduction between tropical North Queensland and temperate Tasmania. New Zealand research has further demonstrated that the latitudinal gradient effect is great for females with RRMS, and weak for PPMS.
Several key studies form Australia have linked low levels of Vitamin D with MS incidence, contributing to global efforts to understand the relationship between UV radiation, Vitamin D levels and MS incidence.
Increasing sex ratio in MS appears to be latitudinal as well, with a marked excess of females over males in new diagnosis of RRMS reported form colder-climate countries. In Australia, this increase over time in female diagnoses is much less evident. Finally, highly differential use of DMT in Australia and New Zealand has prompted new research to assess treatment effects in reducing conversion to SPMS or decreasing long-term disability in comparative cohort studies between the two countries.
Disclosure: HB Served on scientific advisory boards for Biogen, Novartis and Sanofi-Aventis and has received conference travel support from Novartis, Biogen and Sanofi Aventis. He serves on steering committees for trials conducted by Biogen and Novartis, and has received research support from Merck Serono, Novartis and Biogen.
Abstract: 51
Type: Oral
Australia and New Zealand have made strong contributions to studies of MS prevalence and phenotype evolution, in particular latitudinal effects. In Australia and New Zealand, the latitudinal gradient of MS incidence is very strong and can be studied in ancestrally Northern European populations to exclude genetic incidence variation. Thus, many studies have demonstrated the existence of a true Incidence and prevalence gradient with lower incidence and prevalence in the more equatorial regions. The effect is very strong, with a seven-fold prevalence reduction between tropical North Queensland and temperate Tasmania. New Zealand research has further demonstrated that the latitudinal gradient effect is great for females with RRMS, and weak for PPMS.
Several key studies form Australia have linked low levels of Vitamin D with MS incidence, contributing to global efforts to understand the relationship between UV radiation, Vitamin D levels and MS incidence.
Increasing sex ratio in MS appears to be latitudinal as well, with a marked excess of females over males in new diagnosis of RRMS reported form colder-climate countries. In Australia, this increase over time in female diagnoses is much less evident. Finally, highly differential use of DMT in Australia and New Zealand has prompted new research to assess treatment effects in reducing conversion to SPMS or decreasing long-term disability in comparative cohort studies between the two countries.
Disclosure: HB Served on scientific advisory boards for Biogen, Novartis and Sanofi-Aventis and has received conference travel support from Novartis, Biogen and Sanofi Aventis. He serves on steering committees for trials conducted by Biogen and Novartis, and has received research support from Merck Serono, Novartis and Biogen.