| 1. |
- Ahlgren, Cecilia, 1946, et al.
(författare)
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A nationwide survey of the prevalence of multiple sclerosis in immigrant populations of Sweden
- 2012
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Ingår i: Multiple Sclerosis. - : SAGE Publications. - 1352-4585 .- 1477-0970. ; 18:8, s. 1099-1107
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: In 2008, immigrants constituted 14% of the population of Sweden, a high-risk area for multiple sclerosis (MS). We investigated the largest Swedish immigrant populations for the prevalence of MS. Method: Data on foreign-born MS patients were retrieved from Swedish national health and population registers. We calculated observed versus expected numbers of MS patients and gender-and age-specific prevalence ratios (PR) between immigrant populations and the general population of Sweden and, where possible, of the countries of birth. Results: The 19 largest immigrant populations included 1327 MS patients. The global variation in MS prevalence was reflected in Sweden. The prevalence in immigrant populations who had moved to Sweden from countries with a lower MS risk was however higher than in their countries of birth. Notably, the MS prevalence in the population born in Iran was at least as high as in the general population of Sweden (men: PR = 1.10, 95% CI 0.81-1.46, p = 0.537, women: PR = 1.18, 95% CI 0.97-1.44, p = 0.855) and more than twice as high as in Isfahan, Iran (men: PR = 3.06 (95% CI 2.26-4.06), p < 0.001, women: PR = 2.21 (95% CI 1.81-2.68), p < 0.001). Conclusions: The MS prevalence increased in migrants who moved to Sweden from countries with a lower MS risk. In the Iranian immigrant population the prevalence exceeded that in the general population of Sweden. This indicates that Iranians carry genetic factors that contribute to a higher MS risk when environmental-lifestyle MS risk factors change.
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| 2. |
- Ahlgren, Cecilia, 1946, et al.
(författare)
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A population-based case-control study on viral infections and vaccinations and subsequent multiple sclerosis risk.
- 2009
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Ingår i: European Journal of Epidemiology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1573-7284 .- 0393-2990. ; 24:9, s. 541-52
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Viral infections are probably involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). A recent cohort study in the Gothenburg population revealed no change in MS incidence associated with the introduction of the Swedish measles, mumps and rubella vaccination programmes. The aim of the present study was to clarify whether these infections or vaccinations, and two other infections, varicella and infectious mononucleosis, influence MS risk. We performed a population-based case-control study in Gothenburg that included 509 MS cases and 2,067 controls, born 1959-1986. Data on infections and vaccinations were obtained from questionnaires and from child health and school health records. We found no significant associations between measles, mumps, rubella or varicella and MS risk. These results were consistent between the two source materials. Infectious mononucleosis was associated with significantly higher MS risk (odds ratio 2.03, 95% CI 1.52-2.73). Overall, there was no significant association between measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination and MS risk, while those MMR vaccinated before age ten only were at significantly higher MS risk (odds ratio 4.92, 95% CI 1.97-12.20). Those MMR vaccinated both before and after age ten had intermediate MS risk. Infection with measles, mumps, rubella and varicella did not influence MS risk in contrast to infectious mononucleosis which conferred doubled MS risk. The association with 'early' MMR vaccination only was an isolated finding, limited by a small number of subjects and multiple testing. Most likely this was a chance finding. Future studies could investigate it on an a priori basis.
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| 3. |
- Ahlgren, Cecilia, 1946, et al.
(författare)
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High nationwide incidence of multiple sclerosis in Sweden
- 2014
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Ingår i: PLoS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 9:9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Over recent years increased MS incidence, primarily in women, has been reported. We recently reported an unexpectedly high MS prevalence of 189/100,000 in Sweden. In the present study we estimated the nationwide age- and gender-specific MS incidence and the sex ratio in Sweden between 2001 and 2008. MS patients were identified by linking two nationwide health data registers, and the Swedish population register. The earliest registered date of MS diagnosis was determined. By logistic regression, the probability of the date of MS diagnosis being within the incidence period, depending on age and time was estimated for a subset of patients and applied to other patients. By Poisson regression, the hazard functions for the incidence of MS diagnosis were estimated. The expected number of MS patients was 7,361.4. The incidence in the average population of 9,054,658 was 10.2 per 100,000 person-years, and 6.2 and 14.0 per 100,000 person-years for men and women, respectively. The crude female to male ratio was 2.26. No increase of incidence or change of sex ratio was observed from 2001 to 2008. In conclusion, the average MS incidence in Sweden from 2001 to 2008 was 10.2 per 100.000, which was considerably higher than previous regional Swedish estimates of 4.3-6.4. No increase of female to male ratio of MS during the study period was observed. We provide supplementary data that can be used as tools for examining excess MS risk in different study materials.
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| 4. |
- Ahlgren, Cecilia, 1946, et al.
(författare)
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High nationwide prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Sweden.
- 2011
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Ingår i: Multiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England). - : SAGE Publications. - 1477-0970 .- 1352-4585. ; 17:8, s. 901-8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Few nationwide multiple sclerosis (MS) prevalence studies have been published. In Scandinavia, the nationwide MS prevalence was 173/100,000 in Denmark 2005 and 100/100,000 in Iceland 1990. Objective: Our aim with the present study was to determine the first population-based nationwide MS prevalence in Sweden, based on observed, registered patients and to investigate the presence of a north-south gradient of MS prevalence. Methods: By linking the Swedish National Patient Register, the Swedish Multiple Sclerosis Registry and the Swedish Total Population Register we obtained the number of patients who were diagnosed with MS before 2009, and who were registered, alive and resident in Sweden on the prevalence date 31 December 2008. We calculated the gender-specific nationwide MS prevalence in 1-year age intervals. The relationship between MS risk and latitude was studied in a logistic regression model including all individuals in the population of Sweden. Results: The number of registered MS patients in 2008 was 17,485 out of the Swedish population of 9,256,347. The overall MS prevalence was 188.9/100,000 (95% CI 186.1-191.7), 113.4 (95% CI 110.3-116.5) for men and 263.6 (95% CI 258.9-268.3) for women. The female to male ratio was 2.35:1. The prevalence of MS significantly increased for each degree of north latitude with 1.5% in men (p = 0.013) and 1% in women (p = 0.015). Conclusions: The MS prevalence of 188.9/100,000 in Sweden is among the highest nationwide prevalence estimates in the world. In Sweden, the risk of MS increases with increasing north latitude for both men and women.
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| 5. |
- Ahlgren, Cecilia, 1946, et al.
(författare)
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High risk of MS in Iranian immigrants in Gothenburg, Sweden.
- 2010
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Ingår i: Multiple sclerosis journal. - : SAGE Publications. - 1477-0970 .- 1352-4585. ; 16:9, s. 1079-1082
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: In this study we investigated the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) in migrants who had moved from Iran to Gothenburg, Sweden. METHODS: Patients born in Iran were retrieved from a population-based cohort, which included 534 MS and clinically isolated syndrome patients, born 1959-1990, aged 10-39 years at disease onset in Gothenburg. The expected versus observed number of migrants from Iran was calculated. RESULTS: The MS risk in the Iranian migrants in Gothenburg was several times higher than in Isfahan, Iran (hazard ratio 3.88, 95% confidence interval 2.17-6.40). Compared with the general population of Gothenburg, the observed number of 17 Iranian patients was higher than the expected value of 9.89 (hazard ratio 1.72, 95% confidence interval 1.00-2.75). CONCLUSION: Migration from a medium-risk to a high-risk area may increase the MS risk to that of the high-risk area.
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| 6. |
- Ahlgren, Cecilia, 1946, et al.
(författare)
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Multiple sclerosis incidence in the era of measles-mumps-rubella mass vaccinations.
- 2009
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Ingår i: Acta neurologica Scandinavica. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1600-0404 .- 0001-6314. ; 119:5, s. 313-20
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Viral childhood infections may be involved in the multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis. Following national Swedish vaccination programs, measles sharply declined in the 1970s, and measles, mumps, and rubella were virtually eliminated in cohorts born from 1981. OBJECTIVES: To examine whether the vaccination induced reduction in these infections influences the MS incidence. In addition, the public health aspect justified an early evaluation of beneficial as well as harmful effects of mass vaccinations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From an incidence material of 534 MS patients, born 1959-1990, we selected one unvaccinated cohort and four cohorts, each corresponding to a vaccination program (MS patients = 251). RESULTS: With the ability to detect a decrease by 30-35%, and an increase by 37-48% in the MS incidence in the first three cohorts, we found no vaccination related MS incidence changes. The background MS incidence showed a significant gradual age dependent increase. CONCLUSIONS: While the present follow-up provided limited power in the last cohort, there is no evidence as yet that the radical decline in three viral infections influenced the MS incidence. However, the increasing background MS incidence of unknown cause may have concealed a reduction in MS risk associated with mass vaccinations.
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| 7. |
- Ahlgren, Cecilia, 1946, et al.
(författare)
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Serum and CSF measles antibody levels increase over time in patients with multiple sclerosis or clinically isolated syndrome
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of Neuroimmunology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0165-5728. ; 247:1-2, s. 70-74
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In general, measles virus (MV) immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody titres decline over time. However, we found that serum and CSF MV antibody titres increased with age (slope=0.038, p<0.001 and slope=0.022, p=0.008), respectively, and disease duration (slope=0.031, p=0.002 and slope=0.032, p=0.005), respectively, in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). The age dependency of serum antibody levels differed between patients and controls (slope=0.038 versus -0.004, p<0.001). The increasing MV antibody litres over time in MS/CIS patients support a general nonspecific stimulation of B cells and plasma cells that is not confined only to the CNS/CSF compartment.
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| 8. |
- Ahlgren, Cecilia, 1946, et al.
(författare)
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The effect of live, attenuated measles vaccine and measles infection on measles antibody levels in serum and CSF of patients with multiple sclerosis or clinically isolated syndrome.
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of neuroimmunology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1872-8421 .- 0165-5728. ; 235:1-2, s. 98-103
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- High occurrence of measles, rubella and varicella zoster antibodies has been used as a biomarker for MS (the MRZ test). We analyzed measles antibody titres with respect to measles infection/measles vaccination status in 166 patients with MS or clinically isolated syndrome. Fifty blood donors served as controls. Measles vaccination yielded CSF measles antibodies in fewer patients (62%) than measles infection did (87%, p=0.001) and yielded lower measles titres in both serum and CSF (p<0.001). Controls had lower CSF measles titres than patients with measles vaccination alone (p<0.001). Childhood vaccinations probably reduce the sensitivity of the MRZ diagnostic test for MS.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Albertsson-Wikland, Kerstin, 1947, et al.
(författare)
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Mortality is not increased in rhGH-treated patients when adjusting for birth characteristics.
- 2016
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Ingår i: The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism. - : The Endocrine Society. - 1945-7197 .- 0021-972X. ; 101:5, s. 2149-2159
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether reported high mortality in childhood recombinant human GH (rhGH)-treated patients was related to birth-characteristics and/or rhGH treatment. Design and Setting: We sought to develop a mortality model of the Swedish general population born between 1973 and 2010, using continuous-hazard functions adjusting for birth characteristics, sex, age intervals, and calendar year to estimate standardized mortality ratio (SMR) and to apply this model to assess expected deaths in Swedish rhGH-treated patients with idiopathic isolated GH deficiency (IGHD), idiopathic short stature (155) or born small for gestational age (SGA). Participants:The general population: Swedish Medical Birth Register (1973-2010: 1 880 668 males; 1 781 131 females) and Cause of Death Register (1985-2010). Intervention Population: Three thousand eight hundred forty-seven patients starting rhGH treatment between 1985 and 2010 and followed in the National GH Register and/or in rhGH trials diagnosed with IGHD (n = 1890), ISS (n = 975), or SGA (n=982). Main Outcome Measures: Death. Results: Using conventional models adjusting for age, sex, and calendar-year, the SMR was 1.43 (95% confidence interval, 0.89-2.19), P = .14, observed/expected deaths 21/14.68. The rhGH population differed (P < .001) from the general population regarding birth weight, birth length, and congenital malformations. Application of an Advanced Model: When applying the developed mortality model of the general population, the ratio of observed/expected deaths in rhGH-treated patients was 21/21.99; SMR = 0.955 (0.591-1.456)P = .95. Model Comparison: Expected number of deaths were 14.68 (14.35-14.96) using the conventional model, and 21.99 (21.24-22.81) using the advanced model, P < .001, which had at all ages a higher gradient of risk per SD of the model, 24% (range, 18-42%; P < .001). Conclusions: Compared with the general Swedish population, the ratio of observed/expected deaths (21/21.99) was not increased in childhood rhGH-treated IGHD, ISS, and SGA patients when applying an advanced sex-specific mortality model adjusting for birth characteristics.
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