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. 2021 Aug 5;8(5):e1049.
doi: 10.1212/NXI.0000000000001049. Print 2021 Sep.

Familial History of Autoimmune Disorders Among Patients With Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis

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Familial History of Autoimmune Disorders Among Patients With Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis

Benjamin M Greenberg et al. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. .

Abstract

Background and objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether family members of patients with pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) have an increased prevalence of autoimmune conditions compared with controls.

Methods: Data collected during a pediatric MS case-control study of risk factors included information about various autoimmune diseases in family members. The frequency of these disorders was compared between cases and controls.

Results: There was an increased rate of autoimmune diseases among family members of pediatric MS cases compared with controls with first-degree history of MS excluded (OR = 2.27, 95% CI 1.71-3.01, p < 0.001). There was an increased rate of MS among second-degree relatives of pediatric MS cases compared with controls (OR = 3.47, 95% CI 1.36-8.86, p = 0.009). The OR for MS was 2.64 when restricted to maternal relatives and 6.37 when restricted to paternal relatives.

Discussion: The increased rates of autoimmune disorders, including thyroid disorders and MS among families of patients with pediatric MS, suggest shared genetic factors among families with children diagnosed with pediatric MS.

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