Table 1 Clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients with MS

Age (years)

30.81 ± 6.8

30.4 ± 4.98

0.740

Disease duration/year

5.97 ± 0.89

6.45 ± 0.91

˂ 0.05^*

Number of relapses in the last 2 years

2.97 ± 0.92

3.45 ± 0.93

˂ 0.05^*

Clinical picture of MS

 Sensory

50 (41.7%)

46 (57.5%)

0.089

 Motor

80 (66.7%)

56 (70%)

0.450

 Cerebellar

56 (46.7%)

54 (67.5%)

˂ 0.05*

 Speech

16 (13.5%)

14 (17.5%)

0.383

 Visual

78 (65%)

58 (72.5%)

0.286

Fasting plasma glucose (mg/dl)

87.3 ± 4.8

88.5 ± 3.9

0.732

FT3 (pg/ml)

2.58 ± 0.32

1.01 ± 0.79

˂ 0.001^*

FT4 (ng/dl)

1.28 ± 0.315

1.11 ± 0.77

˂ 0.001^*

TSH (μIU/ml)

3.64 ± 1.76

4.27 ± 3.420

˂ 0.001^*

Anti-TPO (IU/ml)

32.64 ± 8.1

144.87 ± 55.1

˂ 0.001^*

Anti-TG (IU/ml)

1.1 ± 0.2

1.8 ± 1.52

0.363

WBC count (cell × 10³/μl)

10.3 ± 1.1

13.7 ± 6.4

˂ 0.001*

Hemoglobin (g/dl)

9.6 ± 2.71^#

8.5 ± 1.56

˂ 0.001*

Platelet (cell × 10³/μl)

114.8 ± 30.1

77.4 ± 46.7

˂ 0.001^*

Neutrophil count (cell × 10³/μl)

5.61 ± 0.72

10.2 ± 2.68

˂ 0.001*

hs-CRP (μg/ml)

1.16 ± 0.63

5.94 ± 3.89

˂ 0.001^*

DMDs

 Methylprednisolone

60 (100%)

80 (100%)

–

 Interferon beta-1a

18 (30%)

8 (10 %)

˂ 0.001*

 Interferon beta-1b

39 (65%)

60 (75.5%)

˂ 0.001*

 Fingolimod

14 (23.3%)

12 (15%)

0.224