title: Multiple sclerosis characteristics in African American patients in the New York State Multiple Sclerosis Consortium.
abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the clinical characteristics of multiple sclerosis (MS) in African American (AA) patients in the New York State Multiple Sclerosis Consortium (NYSMSC) patient registry. The NYSMSC is a group of 18 MS centers throughout New York State organized to prospectively assess clinical characteristics of MS patients. AAs comprise 6% (329) of the total NYSMSC registrants (5602). Demographics, disease course, therapy, and socioeconomic status were compared in AA registrants versus nonAfrican Americans (NAA). There was an increased female preponderance and a significantly younger age at diagnosis in the AA group. AA patients were more likely to have greater disability with increased disease duration. No differences were seen in types of MS and use of disease modifying therapies. Our findings suggest a racial influence in MS. Further genetic studies that consider race differences are warranted to elucidate mechanisms of disease susceptibility.
authors.affiliation: William C. Baird Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, The Jacobs Neurological Institute, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA. BWeinstock-Guttman@KaleidaHealth.org
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weinstock-Guttman
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Brownscheidle
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baier
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Rea
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Apatoff
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Blitz
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Coyle
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Frontera
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Gottesman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Herbert
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Holub
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Lava
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lenihan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lusins
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mihai
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Perel
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bakshi
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Granger
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jubelt
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Krupp
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Munschauer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schwid
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smiroldo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D009518:New York / Q000208:ethnology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D044465:White People