African Ancestry Is a Predictor Factor to Secondary Progression in Clinical Course of Multiple Sclerosis. (25th November 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ferreira Vasconcelos, Claudia Cristina; Cruz dos Santos, Gutemberg Augusto; Thuler, Luiz Claudio; Camargo, Solange Maria; Papais Alvarenga, Regina Maria
• Other Names: Pennypacker K. R. Academic Editor.; Riggs J. E. Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: ISRN neurology. Volume 2012(2012)
• Publication Date: 2012-11-25
• Subjects: Neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous System Diseases; Neurology; Neurology; Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.5402/2012/410629
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2090-5505

Abstract

Abstract : Background . Studies on the clinical course of multiple sclerosis have indicated that certain initial clinical factors are predictive of disease progression. Regions with a low prevalence for disease, which have environmental and genetic factors that differ from areas of high prevalence, lack studies on the progressive course and disabling characteristics of the disease. Objective . To analyse the long-term evolution to the progressive phase of the relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and its prognosis factors in mixed population. Methods . We performed a survival study and logistic regression to examine the influence of demographic and initial clinical factors on disease progression. Among 553 relapsing-remitting patients assisted at a Brazilian reference centre for multiple sclerosis, we reviewed the medical records of 150 patients who had a disease for ten or more years. Results . African ancestry was a factor that conferred more risk for secondary progression followed by age at the onset of the disease and the number of relapses in the year after diagnosis. A greater understanding of the influence of ancestry on prognosis serves to stimulate genetics and pharmacogenomics research and may clarify the poorly understood neurodegenerative progression of MS.