What role does tobacco smoking play in multiple sclerosis disability and mortality? A review of the evidence

Abstract

There is increasing evidence of tobacco smoking as an associative factor in multiple sclerosis (MS). Numerous studies have been conducted investigating the effects of smoking before the onset of MS as well as its impact on disease course. This special report reviews the available evidence and summarizes the contribution of smoking to increased mortality in patients with MS. It also explores some putative mechanisms for the involvement of tobacco constituents in the pathology of MS and the effects of smoking on disease-modifying treatments.

Keywords: epidemiology; mortality; multiple sclerosis; nicotine; pathology; progression; smoking; susceptibility; tobacco.