Abstract Details

Title Multiple Sclerosis and Occupational Exposures: A Case-Control Study

Topic MS and Related Diseases

Presentation(s) P05 - (-)

Poster/Presentation
Number 130

Objective

Background BACKGROUND: MS is recognized as a multi-factorial disease, in which genetic and environmental factors could act together. The exposure to substances spreading in work environment and potentially neurotoxic could be one of the co-factors involved in MS etiology, but there are very few studies about the association between occupational status and MS.

Design/Methods DESIGN/METHODS: We carried out a case-control study, where cases were patients included in the MS Register of the Province of Pavia, Northern Italy, and controls, 1:2 matched by sex and age, were randomly selected from the National Health Service population files. The occupational histories were obtained from the Italian Institute for Social Providence (INPS) archives by automatic linkage using Italian Occupational Cancer Monitoring (OCCAM) method, that estimate the risk of specific occupational diseases, by geographic area and industrial sector.

Results RESULTS: We included 660 MS patients (411 F, 249 M; mean age 49.1 years; mean disease duration 16.7 years) and 1320 controls. The risk of MS turned out to be higher in workers of mechanic industry (OR 17.4, 90% CI 5-60.6, p < 0.001), leather industry (OR 11.5, 90% CI 4.9-26.9, p < 0.001), and agriculture (OR 19.1, 90% CI 4.2-87.6, p < 0.001).

Conclusions CONCLUSIONS: The case-control study design with OCCAM approach appears to be a useful and low-cost method, not only for occupational cancer surveillance, but also for the study of diseases, like MS, whose etiology is not well defined yet. Our findings indicate that solvent exposures could be related to the risk of MS, as both shoe/leather workers and mechanic industry workers are exposed to organic solvents. A major risk of MS was also found among workers engaged in agriculture, suggesting a role of pesticides, whose neurotoxic effect is well known.

Authors/Disclosures
Roberto Bergamaschi PRESENTER	Roberto Bergamaschi has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Sanofi. Roberto Bergamaschi has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Merck. Roberto Bergamaschi has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Sanofi. Roberto Bergamaschi has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Biogen. Roberto Bergamaschi has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Novartis. Roberto Bergamaschi has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Merck. Roberto Bergamaschi has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Sanofi.
Derek J. Chong, MD (Lenox Hill Hospital)	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
Cristina Montomoli	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
Elliot M. Frohman, MD, FAAN	Dr. Frohman has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as a Consultant for Janssen. Dr. Frohman has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Janssen. Dr. Frohman has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as an Editor, Associate Editor, or Editorial Advisory Board Member for Up To Date. Dr. Frohman has received publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care.

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