GENETICS OF MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a common chronic central nervous system dis ease in young adults. Relative familial risk appears to be determined largely by genes while population risk is strongly influenced by envir onmental factors. This is supported by genetic epidemiological studies which also suggest an oligogenic inheritance of susceptibility The HL A DRB1()1501, DQA1(*)0102, DQB1 0602 haplotype is associated with the disease but HLA contributes only modestly to overall susceptibility. The results of three genomic searches are concordant with the genetic epidemiology and imply a number of genes with interacting effects will be found. Importantly, no single region has been identified with a ma jor influence on familial risk.