GENETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY TO MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS

The clinical manifestations and neuropathological signs of Multiple Sc lerosis (MS) have been known for more than a century, but the cause of MS remains unknown. Epidemiological studies indicate that MS is a mul ti-factorial disease implicating, both environmental factors and genet ic susceptibility. The role of HLA in the genetic susceptibility to MS has been known since the seventies. Advances in human genetics now al low a systematic approach to genetic susceptibility in MS: possible st rategies are reviewed.