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Dynamic Visual Tests to Identify and Quantify Visual Damage and Repair Following Demyelination in Optic Neuritis Patients
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Optic neuritis in German children: clinical findings and association with multiple sclerosis

Felix Tonagel1, Helmut Wilhelm2, Carina Kelbsch2

  • 1Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tuebingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Str. 7, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany. felix.tonagel@med.uni-tuebingen.de.

Graefe'S Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology = Albrecht Von Graefes Archiv Fur Klinische Und Experimentelle Ophthalmologie
|April 11, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric optic neuritis patients showed favorable vision recovery. However, 42% developed multiple sclerosis (MS), with female sex and older age being significant risk factors for MS development in children.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Pediatric optic neuritis is an inflammatory condition affecting the optic nerve in children.
  • Understanding its epidemiology, progression, and association with multiple sclerosis (MS) is crucial for early diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the epidemiology and disease progression of pediatric optic neuritis.
  • To investigate the association between pediatric optic neuritis and the development of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective, observational cohort study.
  • Analysis of electronic medical records of pediatric patients (<18 years) diagnosed with optic neuritis between 2004 and 2018 in Germany.
  • Assessment of visual acuity, disease progression, and subsequent MS development.

Main Results:

  • 53 pediatric optic neuritis patients were analyzed, with a median visual acuity improving from 0.07 to 1.0 over a median of 2.1 years.
  • 42% of patients developed MS during the study period.
  • Female sex and older age were identified as significant risk factors for MS development (p<0.05).

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric optic neuritis has a favorable prognosis for vision recovery.
  • The overall risk of developing MS was 42% in pediatric patients, with a lower risk (8%) in those younger than 11 years.
  • The rate of MS as an underlying cause of optic neuritis in older children is comparable to adults.
Abstract

Keywords:
Cohort studyMSMultiple sclerosisPediatric optic neuritis

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