HLA Genotyping in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis and Insulin-Dependent Diabetic Patients: Descriptive Study in A Multiplex Libyan Families

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune, chronic inflammatory demyelinating central nervous system (CNS) insult initially, and a neurodegenerative disorder eventually. This paper is a descriptive cross-sectional study that involved two Libyan families, with a total number of 8 and 13 members, across two and three generations, respectively. The first family included 2 MS-affected members, and there were 4 MS patients among the second family members. As well as, 3 out of those 6 MS-affected individuals are Insulin-Dependent Diabetic Patients (IDDM). Every MS patient of both families was genotyped for HLA. The HLA-DRB1, DRQB1, and DQA1 were explored. HLA haplotypes were observed in each MS patient, taking into consideration the IDDM comorbidity status. The 3 individuals with MS and type I DM are carriers of the HLA-DRB1*0402-DQB1*0302 pattern. While the patients affected with MS only are carriers of the pattern: HLA- HLA-DRB1*1501-DQB1*0302. In conclusion, this paper brings to our attention that the common HLA genotypes among Libyan MS patients with or without IDDM comorbidity might be the same HLA genotypes among the European MS patients.