Table I.

Clinical and demographical characteristics of the studied sample at baseline.

Group	Gender	Age	Disease duration*	EDSS	Relapse rate**
Gd+	30F 8M	33±6.7	4.2±2.8	1.9±0.8	0.34±0.17
Gd−	34F 8M	35±7.9	3.6±2.6	1.5±0.7	0.41±0.15

Abbreviations and symbols: Gd+=patients with gadolinium-enhancing lesions on MRI; Gd−=patients without gadolinium-enhancing lesions on MRI; EDSS=Expanded Disability Status Scale score;

*=time since the first clinical episode;

**=Baseline relapse rate was calculated as the time from first clinical episode to first clinical or MRI relapse.