Multiple sclerosis among Afghan immigrants in Isfahan, Iran

Background: Multiple sclerosis is a central nervous system demyelinating disease with unknown etiology. However, it is believed to be a multifactorial disease resulting from an interaction of genetic and environmental factors. Immigrant studies have been performed to provide a better view of the pattern of this interaction. We aimed to report the prevalence of MS Afghan immigrants of Isfahan, a population who share the same environment as Isfahan residents but with different genetic backgrounds.

Patients and methods: Medical documents of 4536 patients registered by Isfahan Multiple Sclerosis Society (IMSS), the only MS registry in the province of Isfahan, were reviewed for Afghan patients and the demographic and clinical characteristics. The information on the current population of Afghans residing in the province was gathered through Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs (BAFIA).

Results: Six Afghan cases were identified among 4536 patients registered by IMSS. Current population of Afghans in the province was 123,578 people (65,041 male and 58,537 female). One of the cases was male and the other five were females with a female/male ratio of 5:1. Sex-adjusted prevalence for males and females was 1.53 and 8.54 per 100,000, respectively. The overall crude prevalence for Afghan population of Isfahan is 4.85 per 100,000.

Conclusion: This study shows a lower prevalence of MS among Afghan residents of Isfahan compared to the overall prevalence of the province. Our result could be implying a stronger bond between genetic factors and developing MS, rather than the environmental factors.