Inverse correlation of genetic risk score with age at onset in bout-onset and progressive-onset multiple sclerosis

Mult Scler. 2015 Oct;21(11):1463-7. doi: 10.1177/1352458514561910. Epub 2014 Dec 22.

Abstract

We correlated the weighted genetic risk score measured using 107 established susceptibility variants for multiple sclerosis (MS) with the age at onset in bout-onset (BOMS, n=906) and progressive-onset MS Italian patients (PrMS) (n=544). We observed an opposite relationship in the two disease courses: a higher weighted genetic risk score was associated with an earlier age at onset in BOMS (rho= -0.1; p=5 × 10(-3)) and a later age at onset in PrMS cases (rho=0.07; p=0.15) (p of difference of regression=1.4 × 10(-2)). These findings suggest that established MS risk variants anticipate the onset of the inflammatory phase, while they have no impact on, or even delay, the onset of the progressive phase.

Keywords: Primary-progressive; age of onset; genetic risk; multiple sclerosis; relapsing–remitting; weighted genetic risk score.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age of Onset*
  • Aged
  • Child
  • Cohort Studies
  • Disease Progression*
  • Female
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease*
  • Humans
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / epidemiology
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / physiopathology*
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / epidemiology
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / physiopathology*
  • Risk
  • Young Adult