Multiple Sclerosis in Mexican American Population

Multiple sclerosis (MS) prevalence has notably increased in Latin America. Although people of Mexican ancestry make up most of the Hispanic population in the United States, studies addressing MS in US- or foreign-born Latin Americans are scarce. Of the first 3000 consecutive individuals diagnosed with clinically definite MS at a specialized MS clinic in southeast Texas, 128 were identified as Mexican or Mexican American and are discussed in this article. The sample had a wide age distribution (6–71 years), with most patients diagnosed between the third and fifth decades. Of the patients studied, 68.2% had relapsing-remitting MS, 28.9% had secondary progressive MS, and 2.3% had primary progressive MS. The female-to-male ratio was 4.6:1.0; 60.9% of the patients were US born and 28.9% Mexican born. Sixteen patients commuted between countries. The study suggests that increasing frequency of MS among Hispanic people may augment the prevalence of MS in certain areas of the United States. Epidemiological observations, clinical characterizations, and possible genotypic therapeutic responses may derive from further studies.