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Malignant diseases among patients with multiple sclerosis

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Summary

The frequency of malignant diseases among 1866 living and 340 deceased multiple sclerosis (MS) patients was investigated in Finland. The study revealed a low prevalence (0.64%) and mortality (0.07%) rate of cancer among MS patients. The difference between MS patients and general population was significant. The highest rate was found in the group from 40 to 49 years while in the general population the rate of cancer among MS patients tended to fall after the age of 50. The possible role of selenium, one of the antioxidants in the pathogenesis of MS and cancer, is discussed because recent data have shown a very high negative correlation between selenium and cancer death rates.

Zusammenfassung

Die Malignomenfrequenz bei 1866 lebenden und 340 verstorbenen Multiple-Sklerose (MS)-Patienten wurde in Finnland untersucht. Dabei wurde eine niedrige Prävalenz-(0.64%) und Mortalitätsrate (0.07%) für Karzinom ermittelt. Der Unterschied zwischen den MS-Patienten und der Normalbevölkerung war signifikant. Die höchste Inzidenzrate war in der Altersgruppe von 40 bis 49 Jahren festzustellen. Anders wie bei der Normalbevölkerung nahm bei den MS-Patienten die Karzinomfrequenz nach dem fünfzigsten Lebensjahr ständig ab. Die mögliche Rolle Seleniums, eines Antioxydants, in der Pathogenese von MS und Karzinom wurde diskutiert, denn neue Ergebnisse haben eine hohe negative Korrelation zwischen Selenium und Karzinommortalität erwiesen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 4, SF-00290, Helsinki 29, Finland

    Jorma Palo & Juhani Wikström

  2. Department of Atomic and Molecular Physics, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium

    Jules Duchesne

Authors
  1. Jorma Palo
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  2. Jules Duchesne
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  3. Juhani Wikström
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Palo, J., Duchesne, J. & Wikström, J. Malignant diseases among patients with multiple sclerosis. J. Neurol. 216, 217–222 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00313623

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00313623

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