Absence of antibodies to HTLV-I and HIV in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of Italian patients with multiple sclerosis.

Because of the undecided question whether HTLV-related virus antibodies are present in multiple sclerosis (MS), we tested cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum from 52 MS patients and 32 patients affected with other neurological diseases. ELISA procedure was used to detect antibodies against HTLV-I and HIV. Negative results were obtained in all samples examined.