摘要： 多发性硬化在女性人群中的发病率明显高于男性，而且呈逐年升高之趋势。许多研究表明，性别对多发性硬化患者的病情进展、疗效及转归具有不同程度的影响，是一项独立影响因素。本文旨在探讨可能受多发性硬化性别差异影响的要素，诸如发病率、发病机制、临床进程、磁共振成像、治疗原则等。

关键词: 多发性硬化, 性别因素, 磁共振成像, 综述

Abstract: Although multiple sclerosis (MS) affects both women and men, women are more susceptible to MS than men with increasing incidence and prevalence. Accumulating evidence indicates that gender appears to play a critical role in the development, efficacy and prognosis of MS, and therefore should be considered as an independent influencing factor. In this review, factors that can potentially explain the gender-biased observations in MS are discussed, which include incidence and prevalence, mechanism, course and prognosis, imaging, treatment principles.

Key words: Multiple sclerosis, Sex factors, Magnetic resonance imaging, Review