Adverse early life events are not associated with pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) (P3.217)

Objective: To evaluate whether children with multiple sclerosis (MS) are more likely to have experienced febrile convulsions, physical traumas, or surgeries during early life when compared to children with monophasic acquired demyelinating syndromes (monoADS). Background: Physical traumas and hospitalizations during early life may influence immune regulation and the risk of developing MS. Increased hospitalizations and physical traumas prior to onset of clinical symptoms have been observed among those diagnosed with adult-onset MS. Exposures during the formative years of early life may be particularly influential on immune regulation, and may be subject to less recall bias when reported by parents of children with ADS as compared to affected adults because of the shorter interval between exposure and ADS onset. Design/Methods: Children under 16 years who experienced ADS were enrolled in a national prospective observational study between 2004 and 2013. Early life exposures (occurring under age 5 years), including febrile convulsions, physical traumas, or surgeries, were ascertained during structured genetic interviews administered by genetic counselors 3 months post-onset of ADS. Diagnoses (MS or monoADS) were ascertained as of April 2016. Univariate analyses were performed using Fisher’s exact test. Results: Among the 372 children enrolled with ADS, 252 (67.7%) completed the genetic interview (1.1:1 female:male; median [IQR] age 10.2 [5.7–13.1] years at ADS onset; 191 monoADS versus 61 MS ascertained in follow-up). Participants with MS did not report increased febrile convulsions (0 of 61 MS versus 2 of 191 monoADS; p=1.00), physical traumas (9 of 61 MS versus 22 of 191 monoADS; p=0.51), or surgeries (13 of 61 MS versus 33 of 191 monoADS; p=0.45) during the first five years of life when compared to children with monoADS. Conclusions: Children with MS do not differ from those who experience monoADS in terms of febrile convulsions, physical traumas, and surgeries during the first five years of life. Disclosure: Dr. Freitas has nothing to disclose. Dr. O9Mahony has nothing to disclose. Dr. Zahavich has nothing to disclose. Dr. Guimond has nothing to disclose. Dr. Yeh has nothing to disclose. Dr. Arnold has received personal compensation for activities with Coronado Biosciences, Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers, Eli Lilly, EMD Serono, Genentech, Genzyme, GlaxoSmithKline, MS Forum, NeuroRx Research, Novartis, Opexa Therapeutics, Roche, Merck Serono, S.A. Serono Symposia International Foundation, Teva, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada. Dr. Arnold holds stock and/or stock options in NeuroRx Research. Dr. Bar-Or has received personal compensation for activities with Bayer, Bayhill Therapeutics, Berlex, Biogen Idec, BioMS, Diogenix, and Eli Lilly for consulting, serving on scientific advisory boards and/or as a speaker. Dr. Sadovnick has received personal compensation for activities with Biogen Idec, Merck Serono, Teva Neuroscience, and Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corp as a speaker. Dr. Marrie has received research support from Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Rx u0026 D Health Research Foundation, Research Manitoba, Crohn9s and Colitis Canada and Sanofi-Aventis. Dr. Banwell has received personal compensation for activities with Novartis. Dr. Banwell has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity for Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders.