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Plaques causing hemianopsia or quadrantanopsia in multiple sclerosis identified by MRI and VEP
J L Frederiksen1, H B Larsson, A M Nordenbo
1Department of Neurology, Gentofte Hospital, Denmark.
Acta Ophthalmologica
|April 1, 1991
Summary
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) can cause unusual visual loss due to demyelinating plaques. Brain MRI and visual evoked potentials (VEP) confirmed these atypical visual field defects in four patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
- Neurology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system.
- Demyelination in MS typically impacts optic nerves, causing optic neuritis.
- Atypical visual field defects are less commonly reported in MS patients.
Observation:
- Four patients diagnosed with definite multiple sclerosis (MS) presented with unusual visual field defects.
- These defects included homonymous quadrantanopsia in two women and homonymous hemianopsia in two men.
- The observed visual field loss patterns were atypical for the established presentation of MS.
Findings:
- Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed areas of increased signal intensity in the brain.
- These MRI findings correlated anatomically with the patients' specific visual field defects.
- Visual evoked potentials (VEP) results supported the anatomical localization of the demyelinating lesions.
Implications:
- This study highlights that MS can manifest with varied and atypical visual field deficits.
- Cerebral MRI and VEP are crucial diagnostic tools for identifying MS-related visual pathway lesions.
- Understanding these atypical presentations can aid in earlier diagnosis and management of MS.