Table 2. Risk Factors for Multiple Sclerosis.

EBV: Epstein-Barr virus, HLA: Human leukocyte antigen, IL-RA: Interleukin receptor subunit alpha [12-14]

GENETIC	ENVIRONMENTAL
Female gender	Infection - EBV, Mycoplasma pneumonia
First-degree relatives	Temperate climate
HLA DR15/DQ6, IL2RA, IL7RA alleles	Low levels of Vitamin D
Gene methylation, somatic mutations	Lack of sunlight exposure
Disease-modifying genes	Cigarette smoking
Race - Caucasians, North European descent	Obesity
	Areas away from the equator