Representation of different lymphocyte subpopulations in patients who did not experience a relapse was compared to patients who relapsed within the respective time period (6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 months). The same comparison was done for patients who showed CDP. Patients who underwent both events (relapse and CDP) were included in both subgroups. Table 1a, b shows the number of patients in each subgroup and median ± standard deviation of measured lymphocyte subpopulations. Absolute counts of lymphocyte subpopulations are shown in Table 2a, b.Table 1a, b Median ± standard deviation of lymphocyte subpopulations (in % of all lymphocytes) in different subgroupsanT lyCD4+CD8+B lyNK cellsCD5+all patients at first relapse19171.8 ± 744.6 ± 723 ± 611.1 ± 414 ± 772 ± 7all patients at baseline (BL)a 19171.5 ± 743 ± 824 ± 79.3 ± 416.1 ± 771 ± 9all patients at 48 months (48)b 18172.5 ± 745 ± 721.7 ± 615.3 ± 69.6 ± 573.9 ± 6patients without relapse at BL7771.2 ± 742.3 ± 823.4 ± 79.3 ± 416.5 ± 871.2 ± 8patients without relapse at 48b 7773 ± 646.2 ± 622.1 ± 614.8 ± 59.45 ± 474.5 ± 5patients with relapse at BL11471.7 ± 843.5 ± 724.5 ± 69.3 ± 415.4 ± 770.7 ± 10patients with relapse at 48b 10472.1 ± 845.9 ± 821.4 ± 615.8 ± 79.8 ± 573.6 ± 7.patients without CDP at BL15471.3 ± 842.2 ± 824.5 ± 79.1 ± 417 ± 770.8 ± 9patients without CDP at 48b 14872.5 ± 745.7 ± 822.2 ± 615.3 ± 69.9 ± 573.6 ± 6patients with CDP at BL3773.4 ± 647 ± 723.1 ± 610 ± 413 ± 672.8 ± 6patients with CDP at 48b 3374.6 ± 747.8 ± 720.5 ± 516.3 ± 68.4 ± 375.3 ± 6bnDR+ in T lyCD45RA+CD45RA+ in CD4+CD5+ in B lyCD5+ B lyall patients at first relapse19110.8 ± 965.4 ± 1158.8 ± 1920 ± 162.1 ± 2all patients at baseline (BL)a 19112.1 ± 1165.2 ± 1056.4 ± 2018.1 ± 191.7 ± 2all patients at 48 months (48)b 18112.2 ± 665.1 ± 844.8 ± 1211.1 ± 71.7 ± 1patients without relapse at BL7712.9 ± 1164.9 ± 957.5 ± 2023.3 ± 181.9 ± 3patients without relapse at 48b 7712.1 ± 664.3 ± 845.2 ± 1211.4 ± 81.9 ± 2patients with relapse at BL11411.8 ± 1063.4 ± 1155.6 ± 2118 ± 141.7 ± 2patients with relapse at 48b 10412.8 ± 566.2 ± 844.8 ± 1310 ± 61.7 ± 2patients without CDP at BL15412.5 ± 1064.8 ± 1054.9 ± 2018.1 ± 201.7 ± 2patients without CDP at 48b 14812.4 ± 666.1 ± 845.8 ± 1311.6 ± 81.9 ± 1patients with CDP at BL379.8 ± 962.4 ± 1260.5 ± 2316.7 ± 141.9 ± 2patients with CDP at 48b 3311.1 ± 562.7 ± 940.7 ± 119.7 ± 51.4 ± 1Double positive populations (HLA-DR + CD3+, CD45RA + CD4+, CD5 + CD19+) are expressed as the percentage of the first mentioned subpopulation in the basic population. CD5+ B lymphocytes are expressed as the originally measured value (percentage of total lymphocytes) to enable comparison with previously published results.  aThe laboratory test were done before intravenous steroids treatment, interval between this examination and baseline was 2–3 months bThe results at 48 months of following should be influenced by treatment (natalizumab n = 18, fingolimod n = 3, copaxone n = 6)T ly – T lymphocytes (CD3+), B ly – B lymphocytes (CD19+), NK cells (CD3-CD16 + 56+) Table 2a, b Median ± standard deviation of lymphocyte subpopulations (absolute count in 103/ml) in different subgroupsanT lyCD4+CD8+B lyNK cellsCD5+all patients at first relapse1911.3 ± 0.40.8 ± 0.30.4 ± 0.20.2 ± 0.10.2 ± 0.11.3 ± 0.4all patients at baseline (BL)a 1911.3 ± 0.40.8 ± 0.30.5 ± 0.20.2 ± 0.10.3 ± 0.21.3 ± 0.4all patients at 48 months (48)b 1811.3 ± 0.50.8 ± 0.30.4 ± 0.20.3 ± 0.20.2 ± 0.11.3 ± 0.5patients without relapse at BL771.3 ± 0.30.8 ± 0.20.4 ± 0.20.2 ± 0.10.3 ± 0.21.3 ± 0.3patients without relapse at 48b 771.3 ± 0.40.8 ± 0.20.4 ± 0.20.3 ± 0.10.2 ± 0.11.4 ± 0.4patients with relapse at BL1141.3 ± 0.50.8 ± 0.30.5 ± 0.20.2 ± 0.10.3 ± 0.11.3 ± 0.5patients with relapse at 48b 1041.3 ± 0.50.8 ± 0.30.4 ± 0.20.2 ± 0.20.2 ± 0.11.3 ± 0.6patients without CPD at BL1541.3 ± 0.40.8 ± 0.30.4 ± 0.20.2 ± 0.10.2 ± 0.11.3 ± 0.4patients without CPD at 48b 1481.3 ± 0.50.8 ± 0.30.4 ± 0.20.3 ± 0.20.2 ± 0.11.4 ± 0.5patients with CPD at BL371.2 ± 0.40.8 ± 0.20.3 ± 0.20.2 ± 0.10.2 ± 0.11.2 ± 0.4patients with CPD at 48b 331.1 ± 0.50.8 ± 0.30.3 ± 0.20.3 ± 0.20.1 ± 0.11.2 ± 0.6bnDR+ CD3+CD45RA+CD45RA+ CD4+CD5+ B lyall patients at first relapse1910.1 ± 0.11.1 ± 0.40.5 ± 0.20.04 ± 0.05all patients at baseline (BL)a 1910.2 ± 0.11.2 ± 0.40.5 ± 0.30.03 ± 0.05all patients at 48 months (48)b 1810.2 ± 0.11.1 ± 0.50.4 ± 0.20.03 ± 0.03patients without relapse at BL770.2 ± 0.11.2 ± 0.30.5 ± 0.20.03 ± 0.05patients without relapse at 48b 770.2 ± 0.11.1 ± 0.40.4 ± 0.20.03 ± 0.04patients with relapse at BL1140.2 ± 0.11.2 ± 0.50.5 ± 0.30.03 ± 0.04patients with relapse at 48b 1040.1 ± 0.11.1 ± 0.60.4 ± 0.20.03 ± 0.03patients without CDP at BL1540.2 ± 0.11.2 ± 0.40.5 ± 0.30.04 ± 0.05patients without CPD at 48b 1480.1 ± 0.11.1 ± 0.50.4 ± 0.20.03 ± 0.03patients with CPD at BL370.1 ± 0.21 ± 0.40.4 ± 0.20.04 ± 0.04patients with CPD at 48b 330.1 ± 0.11 ± 0.60.3 ± 0.20.02 ± 0.03 aThe laboratory test were done before intravenous steroids treatment, interval between this examination and baseline was 2–3 months bThe results at 48 months of following should be influenced by treatment (natalizumab n = 18, fingolimod n = 3, copaxone n = 6)T ly – T lymphocytes (CD3+), B ly – B lymphocytes (CD19+), NK cells (CD3-CD16 + 56+)