The authors report on a series of 214 cases of defined multiple sclerosis according to Poser et al.criteria. These cases were retrospectively selected by medical reports analysed from Santa Casa Medical School (São Paulo) and the private practive, from 1980 to 1993. The data were analysed as for sex, race, onset ageof symptoms, onset symptoms, and evolutive symptoms. The results were compared to those found in other Brazilian series and in foreign series. This comparative analysis allows to verify similarities and differences among the several series, and the authors emphasize the necessity of multicentric studies in Brazil to assert with more details the multiple sclerosis profile in our country.
multiple sclerosis; national (Brazilian) series; foreign series