Major histocompatibility complex class II alleles and the course and outcome of MS: a population-based study.
BACKGROUND
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) has been consistently associated with susceptibility to MS and the course of several other human autoimmune diseases. A putative association between the course and severity of MS and the MHC remains controversial.


METHODS
DR and DQ genotyping by either restriction fragment length polymorphism or sequence-specific PCR-based typing in 119 patients representing 73.4% of the population with MS evaluated in a cross-sectional disability survey and 100 healthy controls from Olmsted County, Minnesota.


RESULTS
We found a positive association between MS susceptibility and the DR15-DQ6 and DR13-DQ7 haplotypes, and we found a negative association with the DR1-DQ5 haplotype. We found a trend to a positive association of primary progressive MS with DR4-DQ8 and DR1-DQ5 and an association of "bout onset" MS with DR17-DQ2. We did not find an association with disease severity, as defined by EDSS/duration.


CONCLUSIONS
Lack of consistency between different studies may be due to regional variation in MS and limitations of power but likely indicate a minor effect of MHC class II genes on the course and severity of MS.
Weinshenker
B G
BG
Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Santrach
P
P
Bissonet
A S
AS
McDonnell
S K
SK
Schaid
D
D
Moore
S B
SB
Rodriguez
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008910:Minnesota; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011379:Prognosis
D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens