Myelin basic protein binding cells in active multiple sclerosis.

A sensitive, antigen-specific rosetting technique was used to enumerate blood cells that bind myelin basic protein (BP) in MS patients and controls. Sixteen of 23 MS patients in exacerbation but only 7 of 48 in remission formed elevated numbers of rosettes. Five of the latter 7 patients had recovered from an exacerbation within four months of the laboratory evaluation. Eight of 20 patients with progressive MS, all of whom had had disease for more than four years, had BP rosette-forming cells. None of the 16 normal volunteers and 1 of 8 neurological controls had BP rosette-forming cells. These results suggest that BP-binding cells in MS are confined to patients in acute exacerbation or within four months of activity, and those who have had progressive disease for at least four years.