This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.
Abstract
Background and Objective: The authors recently reported that the APOE ε4 allele is associated with significantly greater progression of disability in a 2-year follow-up of patients with MS. In this study, these findings are substantiated and extended in a much larger group of patients followed for up to 40 years.
Methods: Two hundred five patients with clinically definite MS who were genotyped for the APOE ε4 carrier state were included. Groups of patients with (n = 41) and without (n = 164) APOE ε4 alleles were compared for latency to expanded disability status scale (EDSS) scores of 4.0 and 6.0 by Kaplan–Meier analysis with the log rank test. The results were adjusted for age at onset and sex by Cox regression analysis.
Results: The APOE ε4 allele frequency in patients with MS (0.10) was similar to that in the general Israeli population. There was a significant effect of APOE genotype on the latency to reach EDSS 4.0 and 6.0 (p = 0.0002 and p = 0.0006 by two-tailed log rank test). Median latencies were shorter by 12 and 11 years in the APOE ε4 group for these outcomes. These results were significant after adjustment for age at onset and sex.
Conclusions: The APOE ε4 allele is associated with significantly faster progression of disability in MS. This is the first genetic factor to be identified with a major impact on the progression of disability in this disease.
- Received December 16, 1999.
- Accepted October 19, 2000.
AAN Members
We have changed the login procedure to improve access between AAN.com and the Neurology journals. If you are experiencing issues, please log out of AAN.com and clear history and cookies. (For instructions by browser, please click the instruction pages below). After clearing, choose preferred Journal and select login for AAN Members. You will be redirected to a login page where you can log in with your AAN ID number and password. When you are returned to the Journal, your name should appear at the top right of the page.
AAN Non-Member Subscribers
Purchase access
Letters: Rapid online correspondence
REQUIREMENTS
You must ensure that your Disclosures have been updated within the previous six months. Please go to our Submission Site to add or update your Disclosure information.
Your co-authors must send a completed Publishing Agreement Form to Neurology Staff (not necessary for the lead/corresponding author as the form below will suffice) before you upload your comment.
If you are responding to a comment that was written about an article you originally authored:
You (and co-authors) do not need to fill out forms or check disclosures as author forms are still valid
and apply to letter.
Submission specifications:
- Submissions must be < 200 words with < 5 references. Reference 1 must be the article on which you are commenting.
- Submissions should not have more than 5 authors. (Exception: original author replies can include all original authors of the article)
- Submit only on articles published within 6 months of issue date.
- Do not be redundant. Read any comments already posted on the article prior to submission.
- Submitted comments are subject to editing and editor review prior to posting.
You May Also be Interested in
Alert Me
Recommended articles
Apolipoprotein genotype does not influence MS severity, cognition, or brain atrophy
Association of APOE Genotype With Heterogeneity of Cognitive Decline Rate in Alzheimer Disease
A randomized, double-blind, dose-comparison study of weekly interferon β-1a in relapsing MS
Meta-analysis of the placebo-treated groups in clinical trials of progressive MS