title: Longitudinal survey of T-lymphocytes and viral antibodies in MS patients.
abstract: Our study focused on the relationship between lymphocyte H/S ratios and antiviral antibodies. We have concluded a longitudinal survey of 29 clinically definite MS patients for 8 months seeking a possible correlation among clinical modifications, fluctuations of T-cell subsets and antiviral antibody titers. For this purpose in each patient the following parameters were recorded monthly:--clinical history and neurological examination;--blood T-cell subpopulation as defined by monoclonal antibodies of the OKT series;--serum antibody titers against measles, herpes simplex type 1 and 2, HTLV-1 viruses. All these data were compared with the different MS subgroups as defined by clinical course: stable, relapsing, progressive. We found that constantly normal OKT4+/OKT8+ ratios correlate with a stable clinical course; that highly fluctuating ratios parallel clinical exacerbation; that constantly high ratios are associated with a chronic-progressive course. These results are discussed with special reference to the correlation between OKT8+ lymphocyte percentages and anti-HTLV-1 antibodies, since this last virus has recently been claimed to be of pathogenetic importance in MS.
authors.affiliation: Centro Studi Sclerosi Multipla, Gallarate.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caputo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferrante
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaffaroni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghezzi
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Cazzullo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology*; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000032:analysis*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral