Multiple sclerosis, HLA, and lymphocyte surface markers

The frequencies of lymphocytes of different types in the blood of 96 multiple sclerosis patients in different phases of the disease were examined by rosetting, in relation to the HLA antigens present. In the total series of patients, there is a significant deficit of A2, and this is also suggested in the active and progressive cases, but there is no evidence of association of particular HLA haplotypes with the different phases of the disease. There was little variation among the patient categories in the frequency of T cells of different types, but patients in relapse showed a higher proportion of cells showing surface IgG. In general, there is little association of cell surface markers with HLA type, but when B8 is present there appear to be fewer E and EAC rosettes in patients in exacerbation, fewer E and IgG surface markers in remission, and more of the IgG markers in progression.