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Type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis: A Danish population-based cohort study.
Nete M Nielsen1, Tine Westergaard, Morten Frisch
1Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen S Denmark. NMN@ssi.dk
Archives of Neurology
|July 13, 2006
Summary
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and multiple sclerosis (MS) co-occur more often than expected. Individuals with T1D have a higher risk of developing MS, and relatives of MS patients have an increased risk of T1D.
Area of Science:
- Autoimmune diseases
- Endocrinology
- Neurology
Background:
- Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) and multiple sclerosis (MS) are significant autoimmune diseases affecting young adults.
- While HLA genetics suggest T1D and MS are distinct, their co-occurrence in individuals and families has been observed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the co-occurrence of T1D and MS.
- To estimate the risk of MS in T1D patients.
- To assess the risk of T1D in first-degree relatives of MS patients.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Danish nationwide population-based registers (Hospital Discharge Register, MS Register, Civil Registration System).
- Identified 6078 T1D patients (diagnosed before age 20) and 11,862 MS patients.
- Followed 14,771 first-degree relatives of MS patients for T1D development, calculating standardized incidence ratios.
Main Results:
- T1D patients showed a >3-fold increased risk for MS (RR, 3.26).
- First-degree relatives of MS patients had a 63% increased risk for T1D (RR, 1.63).
- Adjusting for familial T1D risk reduced the relative risk for T1D in MS relatives to 44% (RR, 1.44).
Conclusions:
- This nationwide study confirms both intraindividual and intrafamilial co-occurrence of MS and T1D.
- Findings suggest shared underlying mechanisms or risk factors for these autoimmune diseases.