Comparison of Disability in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis with and without Familial History

Previous studies have shown that people with a family history are more likely to develop multiple sclerosis (MS). The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between positive familial history and disability rates based on the Extended Disability Status Scale (EDSS) among the patients with MS.

This cross-sectional study was performed on 320 patients with MS referred to MS Clinic in Kashani hospital, Isfahan, ran, who were randomly selected and divided into two groups with and without familial history. Data related to patients' demographic characteristics and data related to age of onset, number of attacks per year, and EDSS were supplemented by face-to-face interviews and examinations performed by a physician. The EDSS ranking criterion was determined based on neurological function and functional systems (cerebral, pyramidal, brainstem, etc.).

There was no significant difference between the average number of attacks per year in both groups of with or without positive family history. In addition, there was no significant difference in the mean of primary and secondary EDSS between two study groups.

Our study showed that the age of patients with familial type of MS was significantly lower than the age of patients with non-familial type. However, there was no significant difference in the degree of disability between the group of patients with or without familial history.