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No excess of autoimmune diseases in multiple sclerosis families from the Netherlands

J Y Mescheriakova1, R Q Hintzen1

  • 1Department of Neurology, MS Centre ErasMS, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Acta Neurologica Scandinavica
|January 10, 2018
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Autoimmune diseases (AIDs) are not more common in families with multiple sclerosis (MS) patients than in controls. This study found no increased risk of AIDs in MS families compared to spouses.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Immunology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Autoimmune diseases (AIDs) tend to cluster within families.
  • The co-occurrence of AIDs in families with multiple sclerosis (MS) multiplex (two or more affected individuals) is debated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of coexisting AIDs in Dutch MS multiplex families.

Main Methods:

  • A questionnaire was used to collect data on 11 AIDs from 155 MS multiplex families in the Netherlands.
  • Participants included MS probands, 959 first-degree relatives, and 212 spouses.

Main Results:

  • 43.2% of MS multiplex families reported at least one AID in first-degree relatives.
  • The overall frequency of AIDs was similar between MS patients (11%), their first-degree relatives (11%), and spouses (not specified, but implied to be the control group).
  • No significant excess of AIDs was found in MS patients or their first-degree relatives compared to spouses after adjusting for age and gender.

Conclusions:

  • Despite nearly half of Dutch MS multiplex families reporting an AID, there was no evidence of increased AID prevalence in MS patients or their immediate family members compared to spouses.
  • Further research may be needed to understand the familial clustering of AIDs and MS.
Keywords:
autoimmunitymultiple sclerosismultiplex families

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