The HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 alleles are associated with multiple sclerosis disability progression in Slovak population.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of our present study was to analyse the association of HLA-DRB1 and -DQB1 alleles and genotypes with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) disability progression in a cohort of Central European Slovak population.

METHODS

The allele and genotype variants were analyzed in 282 non-related MS patients. Rate of disease disability progression was evaluated using EDSS score in the 5, 7, 10, and 15 year of disease duration, time to reach EDSS score 3 and 5, and MSSS score. Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers.

RESULTS

We found that carriers of homozygous genotype for alleles DRB115 and DQB103 reached EDSS score 3 significantly earlier than non-carriers of these alleles (p = 0.0172; p = 0.00183, respectively). Genotype DQB103/03 carriage was also associated with significantly reduced time to reach EDSS score 5 (p = 0.00316). Lower EDSS score in the 5 year of disease duration was found in carriers of DRB107 allele (p  = 0.028). When MSSS score was used, genotype DRB1*15/15 was found to be less frequent in slow progressing MS patients, when compared to MS patients with mid-rate and rapid disease disability progression (p  = 0.0305).

DISCUSSION

We showed for the first time that HLA-DRB1 and -DQB1 genotypes are genetic markers associated with disability progression in Slovak MS patients. Genotypes DRB115/15 and DQB103/03 were identified as short-term clinical negative prognostic factors, while allele DRB107 carriage appeared to be a positive prognostic marker of better MS outcome.