Prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis in a Turkish City Bordering an Iron and Steel Factory

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammatory demyelination. Recent studies have shown that long-term exposure to air pollutants (including PM10 particulates) is potentially an environmental risk factor for MS. We aimed to determine the prevalence rates of MS in two cities with different levels of air pollution. METHODS: This door-to-door population-based study was conducted between April 2014 and June 2015. Two cities were screened for the prevalence rates of MS: 1) Karabük, which borders an iron-and-steel factory, and 2) Akçakoca, which is a coastal city located in the same region. A validated survey form was used for screening MS. The 2010 McDonald Criteria were used for diagnosing MS. The patients were examined twice, first by a neurology assistant in the field and then by a senior neurologist in public health centers in the cities. RESULTS: The prevalence of MS was 95.9/100,000 in Karabük and 46.1/100,000 in Akçakoca. In total, 33 patients were diagnosed with clinically definite MS. The female/male ratio was 1.5, and 21 patients were diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS, 9 with secondary progressive MS, and 3 with primary progressive MS. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the prevalence of MS was more than two fold higher in Karabük than in Akçakoca, which supports a link between air pollution and the pathogenesis of MS. However, larger etiological and epidemiological studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.

On the Severity of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Diabetes or Metabolic Syndrome

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common entrapment neuropathy. Although its etiology is unknown, certain conditions are commonly associated with CTS, such as obesity, arthritis, hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, trauma, mass lesions, amyloidosis, and sarcoidosis. We aimed to determine the association between metabolic syndrome and CTS, and we compared the severity of CTS between patients with diabetes (and no concomitant metabolic syndrome) and patients with metabolic syndrome. METHODS: Two hundred patients with a clinically and electrophysiological confirmed diagnosis of CTS were included in the study. Their demographic characteristics and severity of CTS were analyzed according to the presence or the absence of metabolic syndrome. Differences in the electrophysiological findings were evaluated between the following four groups: 1) metabolic syndrome alone (n=52), 2) diabetes alone (n=20), 3) combined metabolic syndrome and diabetes (n=44), and 4) no metabolic syndrome or diabetes (n=84). RESULTS: CTS was more severe in the patients with metabolic syndrome than those without this syndrome. The electrophysiological findings were worse in patients with metabolic syndrome alone than in those with diabetes alone and those without diabetes and metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: CTS appears to be more severe in patients with metabolic syndrome than patients with diabetes. Diabetes is one of the well-known risk factors for CTS, but other components of metabolic syndrome may have a greater effect on the severity of CTS.