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Biomedical subjects

M V Lucia

Publications and source records attributed to M V Lucia.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

HLA types and immunity in multiple sclerosis.

HLA types and levels of humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to several antigens were studied in a large group of patients with multiple sclerosis, and in controls. Patients were more likely than controls to have the DRw2 antigen. They had higher mean antibody titers to measles but not to cytomegalovirus, herpes 1, or herpes 2, and had less competent cell-mediated responses. Antibody titers to measles were lower and cell-mediated immune responses were more effective in patients with the DRw2 antigen in patients than in patients without it. This apparent specificity for measles suggests that the etiology of multiple sclerosis is related to the immune response to measles or related viruses.

Antibodies, Viral

Evidence for lower susceptibility to multiple sclerosis in Japanese-Americans.

A search for cases of multiple sclerosis (MS) was carried out among the 120,066 Japanese-American residents and the 3,060,366 Caucasian residents native to state of residence in King and Pierce Counties, Washington, and Los Angeles County, California. Although 48 cases would have been expected among Japanese-Americans in both areas (on the basis of the prevalence among Caucasians in these two areas), only eight cases were found who were residents on prevalence day -- all were American-born residents of Los Angeles County. The age-, sex-adjusted prevalence of MS among Japanese-Americans in both areas was 5.9 per 100,000. The lower prevalence of multiple sclerosis among Japanese-Americans than among Caucasians has been interpreted as evidence of a lower susceptibility to factors causing multiple sclerosis.

Humans