Neurology. 2003 Jul 22;61(2):238-40
Kantor R, Bakhanashvili M, Achiron A.
Division of Infectious Diseases (Drs. Kantor and Bakhanashvili) and
Multiple Sclerosis Center (Dr. Achiron), Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer,
Israel.
The authors investigated the association between Delta32CCR5, a mutated allele of the chemokine receptor CCR5, and disease progression in 256 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
The mutated allele frequency in the study cohort was 7.4%, similar to that reported in the general Israeli population.
Progression to disability was prolonged in Delta32CCR5 homozygotes and heterozygotes compared with MS patients with the CCR5 wild-type genotype (p < 0.005).
Mutated CCR5 allele may be considered a favorable prognostic factor in MS.