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Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an idiopathic autoimmune neurodegenerative disease. Like
many common diseases, MS has a genetic component; however, as with most complex diseases,
the genetic architecture may be influenced by heterogeneity, incomplete penetrance,
polygenic inheritance, and environmental factors. This clinically complex disease
has provided great challenges for geneticists over the years. Although the first consistent
genetic association to MS (with HLA-DR*1501) was discovered more than 30 years ago,
lack of consistently replicated genetic results has plagued the scientific community.
New study design methods (particularly genome-wide associations studies [GWAS]) along
with genome project data and larger datasets have allowed several additional MS genes
to be identified and consistently replicated. Thus, after many years of frustration,
the strong genetic component associated with MS is finally beginning to be characterized.