Family characteristics and multiple sclerosis

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Multiple Sclerosis Health Center

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Family characteristics and multiple sclerosis

There is some evidence that multiple sclerosis (MS) may be a genetic disorder.

MS tends to run in families. About 15 out of 100 people who have MS have a relative with MS, most often a brother or a sister.¹
Certain genetic characteristics associated with the immune system appear more frequently in people who have MS. These features may indicate that there are one or more genes that may increase the chance of developing MS.

Citations
Ropper AH, Samuels MA (2009). Multiple sclerosis and allied demyelinative diseases. In Adams and Victor's Principles of Neurology, 9th ed., pp. 874-903. New York: McGraw-Hill.

By	Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer	Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Colin Chalk, MD, CM, FRCPC - Neurology
Last Revised	February 18, 2010

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: February 18, 2010

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.