High frequency of psoriasis in relatives is associated with early onset in an Italian multiple sclerosis cohort

• Published in: Acta neurologica Scandinavica Vol. 108; no. 5; pp. 327 - 331
• Main Authors: Annunziata, P., Morana, P., Giorgio, A., Galeazzi, M., Campanella, V., Lore', F., Guarino, E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Munksgaard International Publishers 01.11.2003; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age of Onset; Aged; autoimmunity; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; Female; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Humans; Italy - epidemiology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis - diagnosis; Multiple Sclerosis - epidemiology; Multiple Sclerosis - genetics; Multiple sclerosis and variants. Guillain barré syndrome and other inflammatory polyneuropathies. Leukoencephalitis; Neurology; psoriasis; Psoriasis - diagnosis; Psoriasis - epidemiology; Psoriasis - genetics; Risk Factors; Italy; Europe; Human; Skin disease; Nervous system diseases; Multiple sclerosis; Psoriasis; Clinical form; Inflammatory disease; Concomitant disease; Age of onset; autoimmunity; Cohort study; Central nervous system disease; Frequency
• ISSN: 0001-6314; 1600-0404
• DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0404.2003.00158.x

Objectives – An exploratory study has been carried out to assess the association of autoimmune diseases in multiple sclerosis (MS) families with clinical features and disability of MS patients. Material and methods – Age at onset, symptoms and signs at onset, and disability were assessed in 177 patients with definite MS and 178 age‐ and sex‐matched control patients with autoimmune diseases (78 with endocrine and 100 with rheumatological diseases) and correlated with the most frequent autoimmune diseases recorded in the families. Results – Psoriasis was found in 30 relatives of 177 (16.9%) MS patients, thyroid disorders in 17 (9.6%) and allergies in 17 (9.6%). In the control group, psoriasis was found in 22 relatives of 178 (12%) patients, thyroid diseases in 19 (10.7%) and allergies in seven (3.9%). Of the 30 relatives with psoriasis in the MS group, 16 (53.3%) were fathers (P < 0.0001). There was a significant association of high frequency of family psoriasis with early age of MS onset (P = 0.025) but not with onset of symptoms or severe disability. Conclusion – In this Italian MS cohort, a subgroup of patients with a first‐ or second‐degree relative with psoriasis had early onset of MS.