title: Familial forms of multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica at an MS center in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe familial forms of demyelinating diseases from an MS referral center in Río de Janeiro State, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive, cross-sectional study was done to identify familial IIDD cases in Hospital da Lagoa, a public hospital where 75% of patients with IIDD who live in Rio de Janeiro state, located in the Southeast region of Brazil, are referred. The diagnoses of all consecutive patients followed in 2011 were reviewed to apply new diagnostic criteria (Wingerchuk et al., 2008). The diagnosis of IIDD was confirmed based on clinical history, neurological examination, MRI of the skull and spinal cord, CSF analysis and investigation of IgG NMO antibodies. The cases that had at least one other relative with IIDD were selected for the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Familial forms were found only in the multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica syndrome (NMOSD) categories. 23 MS families were identified, 60.86% with first degree kinship. It has a Caucasian preponderance, 90% of whom were white. The frequency of early onset was 15% and 20% of the MSf cases have progressive primary course.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The frequency of familial cases of IIDD was 6.12% among MS patients and 2.8% in NMO spectrum syndromes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro-UNIRIO, Brazil; Department of Neurology, Hospital da Lagoa, Ministry of Health, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Regina M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Papais-Alvarenga
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro-UNIRIO, Brazil. Electronic address: fercostapereira@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Fernanda F C Costa
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro-UNIRIO, Brazil; Department of Neurology, Hospital da Lagoa, Ministry of Health, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Melina S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bernardes
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro-UNIRIO, Brazil; Department of Neurology, Hospital da Lagoa, Ministry of Health, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Papais-Alvarenga
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro-UNIRIO, Brazil; Department of Neurology, Hospital da Lagoa, Ministry of Health, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Batista
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro-UNIRIO, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carmen A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Paiva
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro-UNIRIO, Brazil.
authors.forename: Claudia Miranda
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro-UNIRIO, Brazil.
authors.forename: Claudia C F
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Vasconcelos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Aquaporin-4; Brazil; Concordance; Familial form; Latin America; Multiple sclerosis; NMO; NMO spectrum; Neuromyelitis optica