Ethnic and HLA patterns related to multiple sclerosis in Wellington, New Zealand.
Open Access
- 1 January 1986
- journal article
- research article
- Published by BMJ in Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
- Vol. 49 (1) , 43-46
- https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.49.1.43
Abstract
A recent survey revealed 237 cases of multiple sclerosis in Wellington, New Zealand, giving an overall prevalence of 69 cases per 100,000. Two hundred and thirty-five were European with one Asian and only one Maori, confirming the rarity of the disease in Maoris. HLA A3, B7 and DR2 antigens were more frequent in multiple sclerosis patients compared with European controls. The same antigens were much less common in the Maori population. The results suggest that Maoris have a low susceptibility to multiple sclerosis despite living in a high risk area, and that genetic susceptibility may be related to the HLA system.This publication has 17 references indexed in Scilit:
- Multiple sclerosis: the present positionActa Neurologica Scandinavica, 1983
- HLA family studies and multiple sclerosis: A common gene, dominantly expressedHuman Immunology, 1981
- Multiple sclerosis in twinsNeurology, 1980
- Multiple sclerosis in the faroe islands: I. Clinical and epidemiological featuresAnnals of Neurology, 1979
- A REASSESSMENT OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSISActa Neurologica Scandinavica, 1975
- On the Risk of Multiple Sclerosis According to Age at Immigration to South AfricaBMJ, 1971
- THE PREVALENCE OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS IN NEW ZEALANDActa Neurologica Scandinavica, 1971
- Frequency of multiple sclerosis in three Australian cities--Perth, Newcastle, and Hobart.Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 1968
- THE PREVALENCE OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS IN AUSTRALIABrain, 1962
- Multiple Sclerosis and Amyotrophic Lateral SclerosisNew England Journal of Medicine, 1955