Influx of nonactivated T lymphocytes into the cerebrospinal fluid during relapse of multiple sclerosis
Abstract
T lymphocytes were analyzed in the cerebrospinal fluid of 17 patients with multiple sclerosis during and 2 months after an exacerbation. The percentage of activated (HLA-DR+) T lymphocytes was decreased in the cerebrospinal fluid during the relapse but returned thereafter to the level comparable to that in patients with noninflammatory neurological diseases, whereas no fluctuation in the total number of these cells was found. This suggests an influx of nonactivated T lymphocytes into the cerebrospinal fluid at the beginning of the relapse.