(AAN abst.) Reptiles but no perms for women?

 
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PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 7:59 pm    Post subject: (AAN abst.) Reptiles but no perms for women? Reply with quote

Presented at the annual AAN conference in San Diego, March 16-23, 2013:

Quote:
[P05.138] Environmental Risk Factors for Multiple Sclerosis in Women Identified in Population-Based Study Using LASSO Regression

Ellen Mowry, Baltimore, MD, Xiaorong Shao, Berkeley, CA, Farren Briggs, Berkeley, CA, Brigid Acuna, Oakland, CA, Ling Shen, Oakland, CA, Hong Quach, Berkeley, CA, Allan Bernstein, Graton, CA, Cathy A. Schaefer, Oakland, CA, Lisa Barcellos, Berkeley, CA

OBJECTIVE:

To determine, using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression (LASSO) method, if animal, recreational, or occupational exposures are associated with increased multiple sclerosis (MS) risk in women.

BACKGROUND:

The incidence of MS has increased in the past several decades, particularly in women; this increase is not explained by known genetic or environmental MS risk factors. There is an urgent need to evaluate other candidate environmental risk factors for MS.

DESIGN/METHODS:

LASSO regression was used to identify a subset of environmental exposures with potential relevance to disease among women in a large population-based MS case-control study conducted in the Kaiser Permanente Northern California membership. Variables with non-zero coefficients were carried forward to unmatched and matched case-control logistic or conditional logistic regression analyses, adjusted for known environmental risk factors (vitamin D status, mononucleosis history, cigarette smoking), socioeconomic status and [in unmatched analyses] age. We also determined if known genetic risk factors influenced the results. RESULTS: Of twelve environmental exposures studied, six had non-zero coefficients in LASSO regression. Reptile exposure was associated with reduced MS odds in unmatched and matched (OR=0.69, 95% CI [0.51, 0.92], p=0.013) analyses, as was small pet exposure (OR=0.68, 95% CI [0.52, 0.89], p=0.005) in matched analyses. The results were similar when genetic factors were included. In matched analyses, hair permanent solution exposure prior to disease onset was associated with increased MS odds (OR=1.35, 95% CI [1.03, 1.77], p=0.032), with similar results after including genetic factors.

CONCLUSIONS:

Among women in this large cohort study, exposure to reptiles or small pets was associated with reduced MS odds, while exposure to hair permanent solution was associated with increased odds thereof. The study demonstrates the successful application of LASSO to identify environmental exposures with reduced penalty for multiple statistical testing. Further investigation is warranted to determine if exposure modification reduces MS risk.

Supported by: NIH/NINDS R01 NS049510, R01 NS0495103; NIH/NIAID R01 AI076544 (LFB) and by NIH/NINDS K23 NS067055 (EMM).

Category - MS and Related Diseases: Clinical Science

Wednesday, March 20, 2013 2:00 PM

Session P05: Multiple Sclerosis: Genetics and Environmental Influences
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