Jie Song1, Virginija Karrenbauer2, Ali Manouchehrinia2, Catarina Almqvist3, Jan Hillert2, Helga Westerlind4. 1. Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. 2. Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. 3. Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden/Lung and Allergy Unit, Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. 4. Institute of Environmental Medicine (IMM), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden/Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: A subgroup of patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) present with no oligoclonal bands (OCB) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Several studies report different clinical characteristics and genetic associations between the two groups. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the OCB negative subgroup has a distinct etiology from band positive MS. METHODS: Using nationwide registers to estimate familial risks, which reflect the genetic contribution of a disease. RESULTS: Odds ratios of MS were similar for relatives to band positive and negative patients. CONCLUSION: From the perspective of familial liability, MS without OCB is etiologically closely related to the dominant subgroup of OCB positive MS.
BACKGROUND: A subgroup of patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) present with no oligoclonal bands (OCB) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Several studies report different clinical characteristics and genetic associations between the two groups. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the OCB negative subgroup has a distinct etiology from band positive MS. METHODS: Using nationwide registers to estimate familial risks, which reflect the genetic contribution of a disease. RESULTS: Odds ratios of MS were similar for relatives to band positive and negative patients. CONCLUSION: From the perspective of familial liability, MS without OCB is etiologically closely related to the dominant subgroup of OCB positive MS.
Entities:
Keywords:
Multiple sclerosis; epidemiology; familial risks; genetics; oligoclonal band negative; oligoclonal band positive