Table 1 Characteristics of multiple sclerosis patients included in the study

Sex; female n = 16, male n = 15

Age; 47 years (median), 19–76 (range)

Clinical diagnosis^a

 Clinically isolated syndrome suggestive of multiple sclerosis; n = 9 (9 biopsies)

 Primary progressive multiple sclerosis; n = 6 (6 autopsies)

 Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis; n = 4 (4 biopsies)

 Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis; n = 9 (1 biopsy, 8 autopsies)

Disease duration of biopsied patients^b; 42 days (median), 9–540 days (range)

Disease duration of autopsied patients^b; 19 years (median), 6–34 years (range)