Research Information System
2. Uluslararası Türk Dünyası Multipl Skleroz Kongresi, Antalya, Turkey, 13 - 16 February 2020, pp.31
COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE
MEDICINE USE IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
Seda Dağlı, Melike Doğan Ünlü, Serpil Demirci
Suleyman Demirel University School of Medicine, Isparta
BACKGROUND: Most people with MS try complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approaches and many continue to use them
just to control disease progression and improve the quality of their lives. The reported prevalance rates of CAM use is quite large and ranges
between 33% to 70%. Among many, omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants
and diet ranks the first.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the prevalence of CAM use between relapsing-remitting (RRMS) and secondary progressive MS (SPMS) patients.
METHODS: The study group is composed of 100 MS-patients (87
with RRMS, including 3 CIS cases, and 13 SPMS cases. Mean age was
35.9±9.8 years (18-59 years) and 68.3% was female. Disease duration was
5.2±4.8 years and EDSS was 1.8±1.7.
RESULTS: Nineteen percent (20 cases) of patients reported CAM
use. Three of the twenty patients had stopped their MS medication; the
remaining was taking them as an adjunct. The rate of CAM use was more
than twice in SPMS (31%) group in comparison to RRMS group (18%).
No correlation was detected between CAM use and age, gender, education level, disease duration, EDSS and quality of life measures. In both
group capers and black seed use was remarkable. All had given up CAM
use because of lack of efficacy.
CONCLUSION: The use CAM is considerably high in MS patients.
Keywords: alternative medicine, complementary medicine, multiple
sclerosis