Sex and age at diagnosis are correlated with the HLA-DR2, DQ6 haplotype in multiple sclerosis

J Neurol Sci. 2000 Sep 15;178(2):132-5. doi: 10.1016/s0022-510x(00)00389-0.

Abstract

The HLA-DR2, DQ6 (i.e., HLA-DRB1*1501, DQA1*0102, DQB1*0602) haplotype contributes to the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) in Caucasoids of Northern European heritage. A correlation between the clinical expression of MS and the presence of HLA-DR2, DQ6 has, however, not convincingly been shown. In this study conventional bivariate analysis and logistic regression analysis were used to study the relationship between HLA-DR2, DQ6 and four disease variables in a cohort of 286 Norwegian MS patients from the Oslo area. Logistic regression analysis showed that HLA-DR2, DQ6 was significantly more frequent among female than male patients (P=0. 0251), and was negatively correlated with age at diagnosis regardless of sex (P=0.0254). No significant correlation was observed between HLA-DR2, DQ6 and type of disease (relapsing-remitting versus primary chronic progressive MS) or presence/absence of oligoclonal bands in the cerebrospinal fluid.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age of Onset
  • Aged
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Child
  • Female
  • HLA-DQ Antigens / genetics*
  • HLA-DQ alpha-Chains
  • HLA-DQ beta-Chains
  • HLA-DR Antigens / genetics
  • HLA-DR2 Antigen / genetics*
  • HLA-DRB1 Chains
  • Haplotypes
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis / genetics*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / immunology*
  • Sex Characteristics

Substances

  • HLA-DQ Antigens
  • HLA-DQ alpha-Chains
  • HLA-DQ beta-Chains
  • HLA-DQ6 antigen
  • HLA-DQA1 antigen
  • HLA-DQB1 antigen
  • HLA-DR Antigens
  • HLA-DR2 Antigen
  • HLA-DRB1 Chains