Older age and longer disease duration were associated with shorter LTL. For every 0.2-unit decrease in telomere length, EDSS score increased by 0.41. After adjusting for age, disease duration, and sex, every 0.2-unit decrease in telomere length was associated with a score increase of 0.27 on the EDSS. LTL also was associated with total brain volume and total white matter volume.
In addition, the investigators conducted a case control study that included a subset of 23 patients who developed secondary progressive MS during follow-up and had DNA available at multiple time points. The researchers matched these patients with 23 patients who continued to have relapsing MS. Patients were matched by age, sex, and disease duration. An adjusted analysis found that change in LTL was predictive of change in EDSS over 10 years such that every 0.2-unit decrease in LTL was associated with a 0.34-unit increase in EDSS.
Longitudinal analyses found that baseline LTL predicted higher levels of disability over time.
The study was funded by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
SOURCE: Krysko KM et al. ACTRIMS Forum 2019, Abstract 289.