OBJECTIVE: To register multiple sclerosis (MS) patients residing in the coastal region of the State of São Paulo (CEREM Litoral Paulista). METHOD: Individual interviews with identified cases of MS. RESULTS: 81 individuals with diagnosis of MS agreed to come for registration (62 females [76.5%], 19 males [23.5%]). 65% of all patients were residents of the city of Santos. The mean age of these patients was 43 years (14 to 74 years), and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was < or = 5.5 in 76.5% of the cases. 82.7% of the assessed patients presented the relapsing/remitting form of MS. 81.5% of all patients were undergoing treatment with immunomodulators. CONCLUSION: Due to their clinical profile, patients seem to come to CEREM Litoral Paulista for prescription of immunomodulators. There is a clear need to identify other cases in the region and to allow other forms of treatment to be put into practice.
OBJECTIVE: To register multiple sclerosis (MS) patients residing in the coastal region of the State of São Paulo (CEREM Litoral Paulista). METHOD: Individual interviews with identified cases of MS. RESULTS: 81 individuals with diagnosis of MS agreed to come for registration (62 females [76.5%], 19 males [23.5%]). 65% of all patients were residents of the city of Santos. The mean age of these patients was 43 years (14 to 74 years), and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was < or = 5.5 in 76.5% of the cases. 82.7% of the assessed patients presented the relapsing/remitting form of MS. 81.5% of all patients were undergoing treatment with immunomodulators. CONCLUSION: Due to their clinical profile, patients seem to come to CEREM Litoral Paulista for prescription of immunomodulators. There is a clear need to identify other cases in the region and to allow other forms of treatment to be put into practice.