MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS IN IRAQ: HISTORY, EPIDEMIOLOGY AND THE FUTURE

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) (1). It is the most common cause of disability in young adults after trauma (2). MS is known to show variable prevalence rates, demographic, and clinical manifestations depending on geography and ethnic background. It is generally believed that MS prevalence is low or moderate in Middle Eastern countries (3). The wide variety of clinical manifestations depends on the extent and the anatomical sites of the demyelinating plaques. The functional prognosis of the disease is poor in the late phases of the disease (4).