No evidence of association between mutant alleles of the CYP27B1 gene and MS

An association has previously been reported between susceptibility to multiple sclerosis and the rare mutant alleles of the CYP27B1 gene responsible for autosomal recessive Vitamin D Dependent Rickets type 1 (VDDR1). In an attempt to replicate this finding, we screened 495 multiplex families and 2092 single affected families, together with 4594 cases and 3583 controls (a total of 17073 individuals) but were unable to find any evidence supporting this putative association. Our data do not indicate that mutations responsible for VDDR1 influence the risk of developing multiple sclerosis.