Patient and healthy control characteristics at baseline.

a<p>Median number of years from first symptoms of MS to inclusion.</p>b<p>Treatment within 4 months before baseline CSF sample.</p>c<p>Three patients were treated with high-dose corticosteroids, in addition to interferon-β (2 patients) and glatiramer acetate (1 patient) respectively, due to relapses.</p>***<p>p<0.0005 compared with MS patients using independent samples t-test.</p><p>Abbreviations: RRMS = relapsing-remitting MS; PRMS = progressive MS with superimposed relapses; HC = healthy controls, EDSS = Expanded Disability Status Scale; CSF = cerebrospinal fluid, NA = not applicable.