Nonrandom chromosome changes in multiple sclerosis.

In order to study the role of genetic factors in multiple sclerosis, cytogenetic analysis was performed on 48 patients with the clinically defined disease. We found a high incidence of subjects (50%) with abnormal chromosomes, showing premature centromere division of the X chromosome and structural aberrations, translocations, or deletions that could suggest preferential breakpoints. Correlation between clinical and cytogenetic data showed that cytogenetic abnormalities were more common in patients with high frequency of relapse or with a progressive form of the disease.