Epidemiological investigations into multiple sclerosis in Southern Hesse. III. The possible influence of occupation on the risk of disease.

In order to discover possible exogenous risk factors in the etiology of multiple sclerosis, the pattern of the patients' occupation during adolescence and at disease onset was analysed in an epidemiological group of MS patients in Southern Hesse (West Germany) and compared with that of the German population in the corresponding years. During adolescence, male patients were more frequently occupied in metal processing and electrical trades and female patients more commonly in commerce and administration than expected. At onset, some more female patients than expected were working in commerce and administration whereas male patients did not deviate from the pattern in the general population.