The impact of HLA-A and -DRB1 on age at onset, disease course and severity in Scandinavian multiple sclerosis patients

Eur J Neurol. 2007 Aug;14(8):835-40. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2007.01825.x.

Abstract

The human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class II haplotype DRB1*15-DQB1*06 (DR15-DQ6) is associated with susceptibility to multiple sclerosis (MS), and HLA class I associations in MS have also been reported. However, the influence of HLA class I and II alleles on clinical phenotypes in MS has not yet been completely studied. This study aimed at evaluating the impact of HLA-A and -DRB1 alleles on clinical variables in Scandinavian MS patients. The correlation between HLA-A or -DRB1 alleles and age at onset, disease course and Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score (MSSS) were studied in 1457 Norwegian and Swedish MS patients by regression analyses and Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test. Presence of HLA-DRB1*15 was correlated with younger age at onset of disease (corrected P = 0.009). No correlation was found between HLA-A and the variables studied. This study analysed the effect of HLA-A on clinical variables in a large Scandinavian sample set, but could not identify any significant contribution from HLA-A on the clinical phenotype in MS. However, associations between HLA-DRB1*15 and age at onset of MS were reproduced in this extended Scandinavian MS cohort.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age of Onset
  • Alleles
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Cohort Studies
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Genetic Markers / genetics
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics*
  • Genetic Testing
  • Genotype
  • HLA-A Antigens / genetics*
  • HLA-A Antigens / immunology
  • HLA-DR Antigens / genetics*
  • HLA-DR Antigens / immunology
  • HLA-DRB1 Chains
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis / blood
  • Multiple Sclerosis / genetics*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / immunology*
  • Norway
  • Phenotype
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sweden

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Genetic Markers
  • HLA-A Antigens
  • HLA-DR Antigens
  • HLA-DRB1 Chains