Multiple sclerosis and occupational exposure to chemicals: a co-twin control study of a nationwide series of twins

From the Finnish Twin Cohort (n = 27,100 pairs with known zygosity) all cases of diagnosed multiple sclerosis (MS) were reviewed and those with clinically verified MS were invited for further examinations at the Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, with their co-twins. Twenty one cases (19 pairs, of which 17 were discordant) fulfilled the strict criteria of MS. Detailed occupational history showed exposure to a mixture of solvents in six subjects, to lead in one, and to trichloroethylene in one. Of these seven, two monozygotic twins had MS whereas the other five cases were healthy co-twins. These results do not support a causal association between occupational exposure to chemicals and the aetiopathogenesis of MS.