Cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood T-lymphocyte subsets in multiple sclerosis: monoclonal antibody analysis and correlations with clinical activity.

Enumeration of cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood T-lymphocyte subsets (T-total, T-helper and T-suppressor) was performed by monoclonal antibody technique in 18 patients with Multiple Sclerosis and in 4 patients with non-inflammatory neurological diseases. While no differences were observed in peripheral blood subsets among the various phases of the disease, a marked rise in cerebrospinal fluid helper-suppressor ratio was seen in acute relapses. The results give further support to the concept of a strict compartimentalization in immune response abnormalities in Multiple Sclerosis patients.