RESUMO
The paper is concerned with the results of measuring the activity of Na+, K+, ATPase in red blood cell suspension in patients with different courses of multiple sclerosis (MS) within the range of physiological temperatures (34 to 42 degrees C). Account was taken of the interrelation of structural phasic transitions in cell membranes to the changes in enzymatic activity. There was a spasmodic increase of the activity of Na+, K+, ATPase at 35 degrees C and 40 degrees C at the moment of the clinical signs of disease exacerbation together with a twofold lowering of the enzymatic activity at a temperature of 35 degrees C during remission. The rise of the enzymatic activity at a temperature of 35 degrees C anticipates clinical exacerbation and thus may be of prognostic importance in the determination of the type of the disease course.