title: A long-term prospective study of optic neuritis: evaluation of risk factors.
abstract: Eighty-six patients with monosymptomatic optic neuritis of unknown cause were followed prospectively for a median period of 12.9 years. At onset, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pleocytosis was present in 46 patients (53%) but oligoclonal immunoglobulin in only 40 (47%) of the patients. The human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR2 was present in 45 (52%). Clinically definite multiple sclerosis (MS) was established in 33 patients. Actuarial analysis showed that the cumulative probability of developing MS within 15 years was 45%. Three risk factors were identified: low age and abnormal CSF at onset, and early recurrence of optic neuritis. Female gender, onset in the winter season, and the presence of HLA-DR2 antigen increased the risk for MS, but not significantly. Magnetic resonance imaging detected bilateral discrete white matter lesions, similar to those in MS, in 11 of 25 patients, 7 to 18 years after the isolated attack of optic neuritis. Nine were among the 13 with abnormal CSF and only 2 belonged to the group of 12 with normal CSF (p = 0.01). Normal CSF at the onset of optic neuritis conferred better prognosis but did not preclude the development of MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sandberg-Wollheim
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bynke
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cronqvist
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Holtås
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Platz
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Ryder
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens