Related Experiment Videos
Childhood optic atrophy
1The Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Division of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, Baltimore, Maryland 21287-9028, USA. vmudgil@jhmi.edu
Insights
Complications from premature birth and hydrocephalus are leading causes of optic nerve atrophy in children under 10. Improved survival rates for premature infants contribute to this trend.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Neurology
- Neonatology
Background:
- Optic nerve atrophy (ONA) in children is a significant cause of vision loss.
- Understanding the evolving etiology of ONA is crucial for early diagnosis and intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the common causes and their incidence in children under 10 years old diagnosed with optic nerve atrophy.
- To compare current etiological trends with historical data.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records for children diagnosed with optic atrophy between 1987 and 1997.
- Inclusion criteria: patients under 10 years old at diagnosis.
Main Results:
- 272 children were identified with optic atrophy.
- Most frequent causes: prematurity complications (16%), tumors (15%), and hydrocephalus (10%).
- Perinatal factors or adverse in utero events accounted for 42% of cases.
Conclusions:
- Prematurity and hydrocephalus have emerged as significant causes of childhood optic atrophy.
- Improved survival of extremely low birth weight infants likely contributes to this observed trend.
Purpose:
To determine the causes, and relative incidence of the common causes, of optic nerve atrophy in children under 10 years old and to compare prevalent aetiologies with those given in previous studies.
Methods:
The Wilmer Information System database was searched to identify all children, diagnosed between 1987 and 1997 with optic atrophy, who were under 10 years old at diagnosis. The medical records of these children were reviewed retrospectively
Results:
A total of 272 children were identified, Complications from premature birth were the most frequent aetiology of optic atrophy (n = 44, 16%); 68% of these premature infants having a history of intraventricular haemorrhage. Tumour was the second most common aetiology (n = 40, 15%). The most frequent tumour was pilocytic astrocytoma (50%), followed by craniopharyngioma (17%). Hydrocephalus, unrelated to tumour, was the third most common aetiology (n = 26, 10%). In 114 cases (42%), the cause of optic atrophy became manifest in the perinatal period and/or could be attributed to adverse events in utero. A cause was not determined in 4% of cases.
Conclusions:
In the last decade, prematurity and hydrocephalus appear to have become important causes of optic atrophy in childhood. This trend is probably the result of improved survival of infants with extremely low birth weight.