Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Peripheral blood from 21 patients with active and 19 patients with stable multiple sclerosis (MS), and CSF from 7 of the patients with active disease were examined for T [thymus-derived] lymphocytes by rosette formation with sheep erythrocytes. Increased numbers of T cells were found in CSF in active disease (94.0 .+-. 0.7% compared to 71.3 .+-. 4.4% in controls). Decreased relative and absolute numbers of T cells were found in peripheral blood in active, but not in stable disease (mean 47 .+-. 3 and 957 .+-. 93%/mm3 compared to 66 .+-. 2 and 1381 .+-. 93%/mm3 in controls).