ABSTRACT
Any satisfactory understanding of the biology of multiple sclerosis (MS) must explain the selective involvement of central nervous system (CNS) white matter with sparing of the peripheral nervous system, the target of the chronic and recurrent inflammation and the mechanisms responsible for myelin loss, gliosis, oligodendrocyte pathology and axonal damage, as well as the peculiar disease epidemiology1. It is well established that the likelihood that an individual will develop MS is influenced by family history, ethnicity, age, gender and geographic location. A high prevalence is found in Scandinavia, Iceland, the British Isles (approximately 1-2 per 1000) and countries inhabited by their descendants. A lower prevalence is found among southern Europeans. The disease is uncommon among Samis, Turkmen, Uzbeks, Kazakhs, Kyrgyzis, native Siberians, North and South Amerindians, Chinese, Japanese, African Blacks and New Zealand Maori2.
