[Retrobulbar optic neuritis as an initial symptom of multiple sclerosis. Results of a prospective study]

40 patients with idiopathic optic neuritis (ON) between 1st January 1967 and 31st December 1977 have been checked again from oculistic and neurological point of view between 1st January and 31st March 1983. 10 of 40 examined patients (25%) are found suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS) at the time of check up. Our research points out that idiopathic ON evolutive risk towards MS is greater in females, in people between 20 and 40 years old, in people with one or more relapses as well as in people with neurological microsymptoms at the time of ON.