Geographical pattern of death rates from multiple sclerosis in France. An analysis of 4912 deaths.

4912 deaths related to multiple sclerosis have been identified in France during the period 1968-1977. The average annual death rate was equal to 0.96 per 100,000 population. Analysis showed a clear south to north increasing gradient. The study failed to find any geographic difference from data concerning 5173 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) deaths which had been identified during the same interval. A noteworthy increase in the number of deaths related to ALS was observed over the study period.