Background: Glatiramer acetate (GA) is an effective treatment for the earliest stages of multiple sclerosis (MS)-clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) or clinically definite MS (CDMS). Objective: This study aims to determine the differences in the lymphocyte population (at baseline and the course of five years) between confirmed sustained progression (CSP) and non-CSP groups and to identify potential biomarkers among these parameters that can predict a positive response to the treatment. Methods: Twelve male and 60 female patients were included in the study. Peripheral blood samples were collected before and five years after treatment with GA. The authors compared lymphocyte parameters between the CSP and non-CSP groups by statistical analyses. Univariate and penalized logistic regression models were fitted to identify the best lymphocyte parameters at baseline and their combination for potential biomarkers. Subsequently, the ROC analysis was used to identify cut-offs for selected parameters. Results: The parameter CD4+/CD45RO+ was identified as the best single potential biomarker, demonstrating the ability to identify patients with CSP. Moreover, a combination of four lymphocyte parameters at baseline, relative lymphocyte counts, CD3+/CD69+, CD4+/CD45RO+, and CD4+/CD45RA+ab, was identified as a potential composite biomarker. This combination explains 23% of the variability in CSP, which is better than the best univariate parameter when compared to CD4+/CD45RO+ at baseline. Conclusions: The results suggest that other biomarkers can help monitor the conditions of patients and predict a favourable outcome.

• Keywords
• CD4+/CD45RO+, biomarker, disease progression, glatiramer acetate, multiple sclerosis, patients,
• MeSH
• Leukocyte Common Antigens blood   MeSH
• Biomarkers MeSH
• Biomarkers, Pharmacological MeSH
• Antigens, Differentiation blood   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Glatiramer Acetate therapeutic use   MeSH
• Cohort Studies MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Lymphocytes immunology   MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Lymphocyte Count methods   MeSH
• Disease Progression MeSH
• Multiple Sclerosis drug therapy   immunology   MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Treatment Outcome MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Leukocyte Common Antigens MeSH
• Biomarkers MeSH
• Biomarkers, Pharmacological MeSH
• Antigens, Differentiation MeSH
• Glatiramer Acetate MeSH