HLA-DRB*1501 associations with magnetic resonance imaging measures of grey matter pathology in multiple sclerosis

•HLA-DRB*1501 influences the risk of developing multiple sclerosis but it is not known how it affects grey matter pathology.•Lesional and normal-appearing cortical grey matter magnetization transfer ratio were measured in MS and healthy controls.•No significant differences were observed in MRI measures between the HLA-DRB*1501 subgroups.

BackgroundThe HLA-DRB*1501 haplotype influences the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), but it is not known how it affects grey matter pathology.AimTo assess HLA-DRB*1501 effects on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) cortical grey matter pathology.MethodsWhole and lesional cortical grey matter volumes, lesional and normal-appearing grey matter magnetization transfer ratio were measured in 85 people with MS and 36 healthy control subjects. HLA-DRB*1501 haplotype was determined by genotyping (rs3135388).ResultsNo significant differences were observed in MRI measures between the HLA-DRB*1501 subgroups.ConclusionsThe HLA-DRB*1501 haplotype is not strongly associated with MRI-visible grey matter pathology.