title: Acute optic neuritis: a prospective study of risk factors for multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Eighty two patients with isolated optic neuritis were studied prospectively to determine the frequency with which multiple sclerosis developed and the factors which increased its risk. Patients were followed for 6 to 264 months (mean, 57 months). Twenty six patients (32%) developed clinically definite or probable multiple sclerosis during the period of follow-up. Actuarial analysis predicted that 42% would develop multiple sclerosis by 7 years. Of those patients who developed multiple sclerosis, 92% had symptoms within 4 years of the first attack of optic neuritis. The highest incidence of multiple sclerosis occurred in the 21-40 year age group. There was an increased risk of MS in patients with HLA-DR2 and HLA-B7 tissue types. The frequency of HLA-DR4 was increased in patients with optic neuritis alone compared to controls and to patients with multiple sclerosis, but further studies are required to confirm this finding.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens