HLA–multiple sclerosis association in Continental Italy and correlation with disease prevalence in Europe

Abstract

The association with HLA–DRB1 alleles was tested in 609 Continental Italian MS patients and 836 controls. The phenotype frequency of DRB1*15 in the patients was significantly higher (0.316 vs. 0.112; p c<10 −6; Odds Ratio (OR)=3.64) with no dose effect. DRB1*10 was also significantly increased (OR=2.19; p c=0.047) and DRB1*07 decreased (OR=0.60; p c=1.3×10 −3) independently of DR15 and of each other. We did not detect an influence of the DR phenotype on disease course, age at onset/diagnosis, gender or familiarity. No association with Class I was detected in a random subset of patients and controls. A comparison of the HLA association data in Northern and Southern European populations shows a parallel between disease prevalence and DR15 frequency.