Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common, non-traumatic cause of neurological disability in young adults. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of HLA class II alleles DRB1* and DQB1* on susceptibility to relapsing-remitting (RR) MS and response to interferon (IFN) β-1a treatment. A prospective observational study was conducted. Seventeen patients with clinically definite RRMS, attending a tertiary referral center for multiple sclerosis in Israel and receiving treatment with subcutaneous IFN β-1a, 22 mcg three times weekly were recruited between December 1998 and February 2000 and observed for 12 months. HLA genotyping was performed and clinical characteristics (relapse rate and disability progression) assessed at baseline and after 12 months. HLA data for a healthy control group were also used for comparison. HLA and the success of treatment with IFN β-1a in this group of RRMS patients were assessed. The frequency of DRB1*03 was six times higher in patients treated with IFN β-1a than in the healthy control group (n=100): 29% (5/17) versus 5% (5/100), respectively. Additionally, DQB1*03 and DQB1*02 were present in 82% (14/17) and 41% (7/17) of RRMS patients, but in only 33% (33/100) and 18% (18/100) of control patients, respectively. A better response to IFN β-1a treatment was seen in patients carrying these alleles than in patients without these alleles. Our results indicated that DRB1*03, DQB1*03 and DQB1*02 alleles may contribute to MS susceptibility and IFN β-1a responsiveness, and warrant further verification in a larger population.
Highlights
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common, non-traumatic cause of neurological disability in young adults
Dr Shlomo Flechter, the principal investigator, takes full responsibility for the data, the analyses and interpretation, and the of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel; 3Department of Neurology Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, ly Israel e on Abstract us Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most coml mon, non-traumatic cause of neurological disability in young adults
It has been claimed that immunosuppressive agents, such as azathioprine, cyclophosphamide and cyclosporin-A, reduce the number of relapses, but there is no consensus on the efficacy of these drugs in RRMS10 Other therapies that have been investigated include copolymer-1 and interferon (IFN), which are considered today to be disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) with beneficial effects on relapse rates, disease progression, new lesion formation and the burden of disease.[11,12,13,14] conduct of the research
Summary
The aim of this study ia was to investigate the influence of HLA class II c alleles DRB1* and DQB1* on susceptibility to r relapsing-remitting (RR) MS and response to e interferon (IFN) b-1a treatment. Corticosteroids are the mainstay of treatment for acute exacerbations and are thought to mediate their effects through the modulation of both the immune system and systemic endocrine function.[9] It has been claimed that immunosuppressive agents, such as azathioprine, cyclophosphamide and cyclosporin-A, reduce the number of relapses, but there is no consensus on the efficacy of these drugs in RRMS10 Other therapies that have been investigated include copolymer-1 and interferon (IFN), which are considered today to be disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) with beneficial effects on relapse rates, disease progression, new lesion formation and the burden of disease (as demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]).[11,12,13,14] conduct of the research He had full access to all of the data and has the right to publish any and all data, separate and apart from the attitudes of the sponsor.
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