Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 15, 2026
12:23
Dynamic Visual Tests to Identify and Quantify Visual Damage and Repair Following Demyelination in Optic Neuritis Patients
Published on: April 14, 2014
14.7K
Oligoclonal bands predict multiple sclerosis in children with optic neuritis
Nicole Heussinger1, Evangelos Kontopantelis2, Janina Gburek-Augustat3
1Children's Hospital Aschaffenburg, Aschaffenburg, Germany.
Annals of Neurology
|March 31, 2015
Summary
Children with optic neuritis (ON) who have abnormal brain MRIs or positive spinal fluid bands are at higher risk for developing multiple sclerosis (MS). Early detection aids in predicting MS conversion in pediatric cases.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Immunology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease.
- Optic neuritis (ON) can be the initial demyelinating event in children.
- Predicting MS conversion in pediatric ON is crucial for management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify predictors of conversion to MS in children presenting with isolated ON.
- To assess the combined predictive value of MRI and cerebrospinal fluid findings.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective evaluation of 357 children with isolated ON.
- Utilized Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis.
- Median follow-up of 4.0 years.
Main Results:
- Abnormal cranial MRI (cMRI) and positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) oligoclonal bands (OCB) are independent predictors of MS conversion.
- Older age at presentation also increased the risk.
- Combined cMRI and OCB positivity showed a significantly higher hazard ratio for MS development.
Conclusions:
- Abnormal cMRI and OCB in CSF are key indicators for MS risk in children with ON.
- Cerebrospinal fluid analysis complements cMRI in determining MS risk.
- These findings aid in early risk stratification for pediatric MS.
