Multiple sclerosis: disease modifying therapy and the human leukocyte antigen

Objective: To investigate the potential relationship between the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) type (class I and II) and the response to several disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: We analyzed clinical data of 87 patients with MS at the beginning and end of each type of DMT including the disease duration, Expanded Disability Status Scale and Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score (MSSS). Genotyping of HLA-DRB1, HLA-DPB1, HLA-DQB1, HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-C alleles were identified using high-resolution techniques. Statistical correlation between the HLA type and response to DMTs was done using the initial and final MSSS. Results: Statistical relationships (p < 0.05) were found for only 15 of 245 alleles tested. There was a reduction in the MSSS for patients treated with corticosteroids (DRB1*15:01, DPB1*04:01, DQB1*02:01 and DQB1*03:01),azathioprine (DRB1*03:01, DPB1*04:01, DQB1*03:02, DQB1*06:02, HLA-C*07:02), interferon beta-1a 22 mcg (DRB1*11:04, DQB1*03:01 and DQB1*03:02), interferon beta-1a 30 mcg (DPB1*02:01, HLA-C*05:01) and interferon beta-1b (DQB1*02:01). Conclusion: These findings suggest a few relationships between the HLA and response to DMTs in the disability for some types of HLA class I and II alleles in a specific subset of MS patients.