[Immunogenetics of optic neuritis in children with multiple sclerosis]

The aim of the work was to study immunogenetic peculiarities of optic neuritis in children with MS. Using PCR-SSP technique genomic typing was performed on HLA DRB1 gene (chromosome 6p21) of 56 unrelated children with ON registered at least once in clinically verified MS. 264 adult MS patients and 328 healthy controls from the same stratum of population were also genotyped. A very strong correlation of MS with DR15 (DRB1*150 ... alleles) was observed in comparison with healthy cases in the above population. In 39 cases of children with ON and MS both parents were also genotyped and the rate of their DRB1 haplotypes transmitted (patients) and non-transmitted (control cases) to their sick children were compared in accordance with affected family-based (AFBAC) method. A very strong correlation of demielinating disease with DRB1*150 ... alleles was verified. Transmission/disequilibrium test (TDT) was carried out to analyze correlation in selected families consisting of one sick child and two parents at least one of whom was heterozygous for DR15. The difference observed in transmission from these parents of DR15 alleles and alternative DRB1 alleles was extremely great providing obvious evidence for correlation of DR15 (DRB1*150...) alleles and susceptibility of children to ON and MS.