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- Ramanujam, R, et al.
(författare)
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Utilizing twins concordance rates to infer the predisposition to myasthenia gravis
- 2011
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Ingår i: Twin research and human genetics : the official journal of the International Society for Twin Studies. - : Cambridge University Press (CUP). - 1832-4274. ; 14:2, s. 129-136
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disorder in which patients experience muscular fatigability due to the presence of anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies which inhibit signal transduction across the neuro-muscular junction. Like all complex disorders, disease is caused by an interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Although several genes have been identified which appear to be associated with MG, both classic twin studies and current multi-gene models are insufficient to explain either disease pathogenesis or inheritance. We examined the literature on MG to determine both mono- and dizygotic twin concordance rates, and used this data to (1) estimate the proportion of the population with underlying genetic predisposition to MG and the frequency of the environmental component and (2) derive the number of inherited genetic regions that are required to confer predisposition to MG. Using a MZ twin concordance rate of 35.5%, and a dizygotic rate of approximately 4–5% (based on family data), the probability of encountering environmental components necessary to develop MG in an individual with genetic predisposition is approximately 52.4%, making the frequency of predisposition (1:5240) roughly twice the rate of incidence. Furthermore, the number of genetic regions co-inherited between affected individuals is between two and four, which may be large haplotypes with interacting activity. Determining these haplotypes, by fully sequencing associated regions in cases and controls to identify mutations present, may therefore be a practically step toward the understanding of complex disease.
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| 3. |
- Jungedal, R, et al.
(författare)
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Prevalence of anti-drug antibodies against interferon beta has decreased since routine analysis of neutralizing antibodies became clinical practice
- 2012
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Ingår i: Multiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England). - : SAGE Publications. - 1477-0970 .- 1352-4585. ; 18:12, s. 1775-1781
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) against interferon beta (IFNβ) lead to loss of treatment efficacy in multiple sclerosis patients. The seroprevalence of NAbs in multiple sclerosis patients treated with IFNβ during 2003–2004 was 32% in a cross-sectional analysis of routine data. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the seroprevalence of NAbs, the levels of NAb titres and the IFNβ preparations used for treatment of multiple sclerosis patients had changed in 2009–2010. Methods: This study included 1296 patients, analysed for NAbs with the myxovirus resistance protein A gene expression assay in 2009–2010. Results: The seroprevalence of NAbs had decreased to 19% in 2009–2010, which is significantly lower compared with the previous study in 2003–2004 ( p<0.0001). This decrease was attributed to the IFNβ-1a preparations only, not to IFNβ-1b. The frequency of patients with high positive titres decreased the most, from 16% to 7% ( p<0.0001). Conclusions: NAb seroprevalence has decreased since NAb monitoring became clinical practice in 2003, especially for patients with high NAb titres. This might be due to the stricter monitoring of NAb titres that prompt NAb positive patients to stop treatment, to preferential use of less immunogenic drugs and to alteration of drug formulations.
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