Table 2 Disease characteristics

Relapse before starting DMDs

 Brainstem

19

12.7

29

19.3

0.115

 Cerebellar

26

17.3

72

48

 < 0.001*

 Motor

61

40.7

39

26

0.007*

 Sensory

6

4

12

8

0.145

 Spinal

53

35.3

98

65.3

 < 0.001*

 Vision

66

44

62

41.3

0.64

Relapses no., Mean ± SD

1.67 ± 0.7

3.13 ± 2.1

 < 0.001*^m

 Number of lesions

 < 0.001*

  1–5

32

21.3

8

5.3

  6–10

73

48.7

54

36

  > 10

45

30

88

58.7

Enhanced lesions

 < 0.001*

 1–3

79

52.7

59

39.3

 > 3

43

28.6

85

56.7

 Not present

28

18.7

6

4

 Site of lesion PV

150

100

150

100

NA

 Site of lesion JC

69

46

109

72.7

 < 0.001*

 Site of lesion IT

118

78.7

139

92.7

 < 0.001*f

Spinal lesions number

 < 0.001*

 1

78

55.7

23

15.5

 2

60

42.9

46

31.1

 3

2

1.4

44

29.7

 4

0

0

27

18.2

 5

0

0

8

5.4

Visual involvement

0.33

 ND

74

49.3

69

46

 Normal

20

13.3

14

9.3

 Prolonged

56

37.3

67

44.7

 OCB, median (IQR)

2 (2–10)

5 (2–10)

0.024*^m

Black holes

 < 3

33

22

29

19.3

 > 5

12

8

53

35.3

 < 0.001*

 3_5

27

18

46

30.7

 Not present

78

52

21

14