[Pathogenesis of retrobulbar neuritis]

Biological fluids from 146 patients with retrobulbar neuritis were examined for the biochemical, immunochemical and immunologic characteristics that mirror destructive processes in myelin and changes in the system of the cholinoglycine cycle which is one of the stages of the synthesis of myelin in the oligodendrocyte. In the majority of observations, the changes in these reactions of different directions and of varying intensity were revealed. Based on the data obtained the conclusion is made that part of the patients with retrobulbar neuritis may be attributed to multiple sclerosis since according to the laboratory findings, the demyelinating process occurring in them goes beyond optic nerves. Besides, it has been shown with special reference to retrobulbar neuritis that the primary affect, possibly of the viral nature, is likely to be localized in the oligodendrocyte, with myelin being involved in the process for the second time.