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Concordance for multiple sclerosis in Danish twins: an update of a nationwide study

National Institute of Public Health, Øster Farimagsgade 5, DK-1399 København K, Denmark, The Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry, Rigshospitalet 7013, Tagensvej 20, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark, tha{at}niph.dk

A Skytthe

The Danish Twin Registry, Sønder Boulevard 23A, DK-5000 Odense C, Denmark

E Stenager

The Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry, Rigshospitalet 7013, Tagensvej 20, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark, MS-Clinic of Southern Jutland (Sønderborg, Vejle, Esbjerg), Neurologisk afdeling, Sydvang 1, 6400 Sønderborg, Denmark

H C Petersen

Department of Statistics, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9B, DK-5000 Odense C, Denmark

H Brønnum-Hansen

National Institute of Public Health, Øster Farimagsgade 5, DK-1399 København K, Denmark, The Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry, Rigshospitalet 7013, Tagensvej 20, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark

K O Kyvik

The Danish Twin Registry, Sønder Boulevard 23A, DK-5000 Odense C, Denmark

The occurrence of multiple sclerosis (MS) in twins has not previously been studied in complete nationwide data sets. The existence of almost complete MS and twin registries in Denmark ensures that essentially unbiased samples of MS cases among twins can be obtained. In this population-based study, virtually all Danish MS cases among twins born before 1983 with onset of MS after 1948 and diagnosis before 1 January 1997 were identified. Of 13 286 MS cases, 178 were twins and, of these 164 twin pairs were discordant and seven were concordant. We found significantly higher proband-wise concordance among monozygotic twins than dizygotic twins, with estimated proband-wise concordances of 24% (95% confidence interval (CI): 5-39%) for monozygotic and 3% (95% CI: 0-8%) for dizygotic twins. Thus, a monozygotic twin whose co-twin has MS has a 24% risk of developing the disease, while the corresponding risk for a dizygotic twin is only 3%. Our results largely confirm previously published concordance estimates and indicate that genetic factors are of importance in susceptibility to MS.

Key Words: concordance • genetic susceptibility • multiple sclerosis • twin study

Multiple Sclerosis, Vol. 11, No. 5, 504-510 (2005)
DOI: 10.1191/1352458505ms1220oa


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