Sibling disability risk at onset and during disease progression in familial multiple sclerosis

Wellek A, et al. Mult Scler. 2011 May 11. [Epub ahead of print]

This study has tried to assess if there are any differences in relation to the onset of MS and disease progression between people with familial and sporadic MS. Results: Disease onset tended to occur slightly earlier (months) and involved more sites at onset (multifocal) in people with familial compared to sporadic MS, i.e. no family history of the disease. Notably, there was a correlation in relation to disease progression within sibling pairs as well as a higher risk for siblings than for controls to become secondary progressive. Conclusions: The authors conclude that familial MS differs from sporadic MS with respect to age at onset, multifocal involvement as first clinical event, and conversion into secondary progression.