TY - JOUR
T1 - A Population-Based Study of Multiple Sclerosis in Twins
AU - Ebers, George C.
AU - Bulman, Dennis E.
AU - Sadovnick, Adele D.
AU - Paty, Donald W.
AU - Warren, Sharon
AU - Hader, Walter
AU - Murray, T. Jock
AU - Seland, T. Peter
AU - Duquette, Pierre
AU - Grey, Trevor
AU - Nelson, Robert
AU - Nicolle, Michael
AU - Brunet, Donald
PY - 1986/12/25
Y1 - 1986/12/25
N2 - Results from studies of twin concordance in multiple sclerosis have not conclusively differentiated between environmental and genetic factors that determine susceptibility to the disease. Published studies that have been based on case finding by public appeal have been characterized by difficulties in ascertainment. The data reported here are from a large population-based study of multiple sclerosis in twins, in which ascertainment has been relatively unbiased and the cooperation of patients nearly complete. A total of 5463 patients attending 10 multiple sclerosis clinics across Canada were surveyed. Twenty-seven monozygotic and 43 dizygotic twin pairs were identified, and the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis was verified by examination and laboratory investigation. Seven of 27 monozygotic pairs (25.9 percent) and 1 of 43 dizygotic pairs (2.3 percent) were concordant for multiple sclerosis. The concordance rate for 4582 nontwin siblings of patients at two multiple sclerosis clinics was 1.9 percent, closely paralleling the concordance rate in dizygotic twins. To the extent that the difference in concordance rates between monozygotic and dizygotic twins indicates genetic susceptibility, the results of this study show a major genetic component in susceptibility to multiple sclerosis. (N Engl J Med 1986; 315:1638–42.), STUDIES of twins have been a classic way of distinguishing between environmental and genetic determinants of susceptibility to disease.1 Such studies are of special value in disorders in which either the mode of inheritance or the nature of the environmental effect is obscure. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic neurologic disorder in which both environmental2,3 and genetic factors3,4 appear to have a causal role. Evidence in support of genetic susceptibility to the disease has been inconclusive.3,4 The results of several previous studies of twins have been ambiguous.5 6 7 8 9 The largest of these studies5 showed little difference in concordance rates between dizygotic and…
AB - Results from studies of twin concordance in multiple sclerosis have not conclusively differentiated between environmental and genetic factors that determine susceptibility to the disease. Published studies that have been based on case finding by public appeal have been characterized by difficulties in ascertainment. The data reported here are from a large population-based study of multiple sclerosis in twins, in which ascertainment has been relatively unbiased and the cooperation of patients nearly complete. A total of 5463 patients attending 10 multiple sclerosis clinics across Canada were surveyed. Twenty-seven monozygotic and 43 dizygotic twin pairs were identified, and the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis was verified by examination and laboratory investigation. Seven of 27 monozygotic pairs (25.9 percent) and 1 of 43 dizygotic pairs (2.3 percent) were concordant for multiple sclerosis. The concordance rate for 4582 nontwin siblings of patients at two multiple sclerosis clinics was 1.9 percent, closely paralleling the concordance rate in dizygotic twins. To the extent that the difference in concordance rates between monozygotic and dizygotic twins indicates genetic susceptibility, the results of this study show a major genetic component in susceptibility to multiple sclerosis. (N Engl J Med 1986; 315:1638–42.), STUDIES of twins have been a classic way of distinguishing between environmental and genetic determinants of susceptibility to disease.1 Such studies are of special value in disorders in which either the mode of inheritance or the nature of the environmental effect is obscure. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic neurologic disorder in which both environmental2,3 and genetic factors3,4 appear to have a causal role. Evidence in support of genetic susceptibility to the disease has been inconclusive.3,4 The results of several previous studies of twins have been ambiguous.5 6 7 8 9 The largest of these studies5 showed little difference in concordance rates between dizygotic and…
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U2 - 10.1056/NEJM198612253152603
DO - 10.1056/NEJM198612253152603
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0022868088
SN - 0028-4793
VL - 315
SP - 1638
EP - 1642
JO - New England Journal of Medicine
JF - New England Journal of Medicine
IS - 26
ER -