Update on pediatric optic neuritis

Jane H Lock1, Nancy J Newman1,2,3, Valérie Biousse1,2

  • 1Department of Ophthalmology.

Insights

Recent advancements in pediatric optic neuritis (PON) focus on myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody (MOG-Ab) testing. This improves diagnosis and risk stratification for children with demyelinating conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Immunology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Pediatric optic neuritis (PON) is a significant neurological condition in children.
  • Understanding demyelinating syndromes has evolved with new serological markers.
  • Distinguishing between various autoimmune neurological disorders is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in the classification, investigation, and management of pediatric optic neuritis (PON).
  • To highlight the impact of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody (MOG-Ab) testing on PON assessment.
  • To discuss the implications for risk stratification and tailored treatment strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent developments in pediatric optic neuritis.
  • Analysis of studies focusing on MOG-Ab associated disease (MOG+AD).
  • Comparison of MOG+AD with multiple sclerosis (MS) and aquaporin-4 antibody positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (AQP4+NMOSD).

Main Results:

  • Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody (MOG-Ab) testing has shifted the paradigm in assessing pediatric optic neuritis.
  • MOG-Ab positive-associated disease (MOG+AD) presents distinct clinical and radiological features compared to MS and AQP4+NMOSD.
  • Optic neuritis is the most common presentation of MOG+AD, which is more prevalent in children and generally has a better prognosis, barring recurrent cases.

Conclusions:

  • Improved understanding of MOG+AD natural history allows for better risk stratification in pediatric optic neuritis.
  • Initial PON investigations now routinely include serology alongside neuroimaging and CSF analysis.
  • Treatment for PON is increasingly tailored to specific diagnoses, including MS, AQP4+NMOSD, and MOG+AD.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
214
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight,...
261
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses...
196
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
250
Properties of Enantiomers and Optical Activity02:24

Properties of Enantiomers and Optical Activity

It is essential to understand the difference between chiral and achiral interactions and the implications thereof in optical activity and their applications. Just as our feet, which are chiral, interact uniquely with chiral objects, such as a pair of shoes, but identically with achiral socks, enantiomers of a molecule exhibit different properties only when they interact with other chiral media. An example of a significant implication from this facet is the phenomenon known as optical activity,...
21.5K
Imaging Biological Samples with Optical Microscopy01:18

Imaging Biological Samples with Optical Microscopy

Optical microscopy uses optic principles to provide detailed images of samples. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek designed the first compound optical microscope in the 17th century to visualize blood cells, bacteria, and yeast cells. In 1830, Joseph Jackson Lister created an essentially modern light microscope. The 20th century saw the development of microscopes with enhanced magnification and resolution.
In optical microscopy, the specimen to be viewed is placed on a glass slide and clipped on the stage...
8.9K