To study the association between disease progression and some clinical features and biochemical spinal fluid parameters, we have examined 209 patients with remitting type of multiple sclerosis. The more rapid progression of multiple sclerosis was associated with male sex, a history of brain concussion, a short first remission, late disease onset, movement disorders at onset of the disease and the high level of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (sPECAM-1) in the spinal fluid.