HLA-DRB1⁎15 and cerebrospinal-fluid-specific oligoclonal immunoglobulin G bands lower age at attainment of important disease milestones in multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Carriage of HLA-DRB1⁎15 is the most important genetic risk factor in multiple sclerosis (MS), while CSF-specific oligoclonal immunoglobulin G bands (OCB) constitute the most sensitive biochemical marker for diagnosing MS. We demonstrated in an earlier study the interdependence of HLA-DRB1 genotype and OCB status; the effect of these phenotypic features on MS prognosis remains controversial, however. We investigated by survival analysis the impact of each variable on age at two important MS milestones: onset of clinical symptoms and an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of 6.0. Both carriage of HLA-DRB1⁎15 and the presence of OCB hastened attainment of EDSS 6.0.