Q. My partner and I are thinking about starting a family, but I have MS and am worried about passing it on to our children.
What things should we be taking into consideration?
A. The possibility that the child of a person with MS will develop the disease is estimated to be around 3-5 percent, depending on the gender of the parent and of the child. Please refer to the article 'Genes, MS and Families' on pages 13-15 for a complete discussion of risk factors.
Other important issues to consider when thinking about a pregnancy include the possible impact of discontinuing any medications (such as a disease modifying treatment) during pregnancy and/or while breast feeding, the increased risk within the first three months after delivery of having a relapse, preparing for the potential worsening of some symptoms, such as bladder and bowel problems, during pregnancy, and organising additional help in the home if needed. Refer to MS in focus, Issue 3 on Families, page 17, for further advice.
Q. What is the Human Genome Project and how is it helping MS research?
A. The Human Genome Project is an international effort that began in October, 1990. The primary goal of the project was to identify all the genes in human DNA and to determine the sequences of the three billion chemical base pairs that make up human DNA. Practically speaking, the purpose of learning more about the effects of differences in DNA among people should lead to new ways to diagnose, treat, and hopefully someday, prevent many diseases and disorders. More information can be found on a number of websites describing the project, by typing “human genome project” into an Internet search engine.
Q. I have rheumatoid arthritis and MS. My doctor told me that both are immunediseases. Do they have something in common genetically? Is it common for people with MS to have other immune diseases as well?
A. Autoimmune diseases include approximately 50 different diseases with varying symptoms.
Though each disease is different, malfunctioning of the immune system occurs in all of them. A person with one autoimmune disease is more predisposed to having another. Also, in families where one member has an autoimmune disease, other family members are more likely to be diagnosed with other autoimmune diseases. So, for example, a person with MS may have one family member with rheumatoid arthritis, and another with diabetes mellitus. The MS genetics studies discussed in this issue of MS in focus do look at the presence of other autoimmune diseases in participating families in the hope of answering the questions of how and why this occurs.
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