Table 4.
Clinical characteristics of patients with MS and the HLA-DRB1*04:05 allele
| Northern patients (n = 92) |
Southern patients (n = 80) |
p value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of males/females (ratio) | 27/65 (1:2.4) | 25/55 (1:2.2) | NS |
| Age (years)a | 41 (34–49.5) | 36 (28–49) | NS |
| Age at onset (years)a | 27 (21–34) | 25 (20–36.8) | NS |
| SPMS (%) | 19/92 (20.7) | 7/78 (9.0) | 0.035 |
| Disease duration (years)a | 10 (6–17) | 7.5 (4–14.8) | NS |
| EDSSa | 2.0 (1.0–3.5) | 2.0 (1.0–3.0) | NS |
| MSSSa | 1.97 (0.56–5.63) | 2.28 (1.04–4.97) | NS |
| ARRa | 0.40 (0.25–0.71) | 0.37 (0.17–0.71) | NS |
| Barkhof criteria (%) | 69/92 (75.0 %) | 44/78 (56.4 %) | 0.0105 |
| Positive OB and/or increased IgG index (%) | 41/69 (59.4 %) | 17/60 (28.3 %) | 0.0004 |
The Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare continuous variables, and the chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables
ARR annualized relapse rate, EDSS Kurtzke’s Expanded Disability Status Scale, MSSS Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score, OB oligoclonal IgG bands, SPMS secondary progressive multiple sclerosis
aMedian (interquartile range)