OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the city of Santos, SP. METHOD: Evaluation of data from the Reference Center for MS of the coastal region of the State of São Paulo, from the Regional Association of Patients with MS (APEMBS), with active participation of all neurologists and neurosurgeons of the city, data from IBGE, from the city council, and from EMPLASA. The protocol proposed by the BCTRIMS (already used in other similar studies) was used for data collection and analysis, June 30th 2005 being established as the prevalence day. RESULTS: Santos has an area of 280.3 km², with 418,316 inhabitants (1.49 inhabitant per km²). A total of 65 patients were identified, attaining the prevalence of 15.54/100.000. The most frequent initial symptom of the disease was optical neuritis (28.8%). CONCLUSION: data from the city of Santos are similar to those already observed, but as yet not published, in other cities of the State of São Paulo and of Brazil.
Multiple sclerosis; Prevalence