| Print Date: | May 24, 2013, 9:17 am |
| Title | optic neuritis |
| Text | Optic neuritis is an acute inflammatory optic neuropathy. It is the most common type of optic neuropathy which causes acute visual loss in young to middle-aged adults. Usual symptoms are acute reduction of visual acuity, pain (especially with eye movements), and papilledema. (1)
In a ten-year study of 388 patients who experienced acute optic neuritis, it was noted that the ten-year risk of developing multiple sclerosis was 38%. Patients who had one or more typical lesions for MS on the MRI of the brain had 56% risk, and those without such lesions had 22% risk. Among the patients with no typical MS lesions on the MRI of the brain, male gender, optic disc swelling, perpapillary hemorrhages, and retinal exudates were associated with a lower risk of developing MS. (2) Another major cause of optic neuritis is acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). ADEM is a post-infectious inflammatory process, mediated by auto-reactive immune cells or antibodies. It has been noted that bilateral optic neuritis and transverse myelitis are particularly suggestive of ADEM. (3) |
| References: | 1. Chan JW. Optic neuritis in multiple sclerosis.
Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2002 Sep;10(3):161-86. 2. Beck RW, et al. High- and low-risk profiles for the development of multiple sclerosis within 10 years after optic neuritis: experience of the optic neuritis treatment trial. Arch Ophthalmol. 2003 Jul;121(7):944-9. 3. Dale RC. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. Semin Pediatr Infect Dis. 2003 Apr;14(2):90-5. |
| Contributor | Pil Kang (Uniformed Services University) |
| Peer Reviewer | James G. Smirniotopoulos, M.D. (Uniformed Services University) |
| Record Number | : 5318 |
| Created | 2003-12-10 03:45:44-05 |
| Modified | 2003-12-14 18:01:05-05 |
| Category: | Inflammatory, non-infectious |
| Location: | Eye and Orbit (exclude Ophthalmology) |
| Sublocation: | Optic Nerve and Sheath |
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