title: Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain in nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy.
abstract: We wished to determine whether the number of central nervous system (CNS) white matter lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increased in patients with nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). T2-Weighted axial images of the brain in 13 patients with acute NAION and 16 age-matched controls were used to tabulate the number of subcortical and periventricular white matter lesions. Groups were compared by t test for means, the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney rank-sum test, and chi-square test for proportions with at least one lesion. The mean number of CNS white matter ischemic lesions in the NAION group was 4.0 (range 0-20) as compared to 1.4 (range 0-7) in the control group. The difference in these samples suggested a significant increase in NAION (p = 0.069, rank-sum test). The proportions of patients with at least one lesion were not significantly different (53.8% NAION vs. 56.3% controls). The data suggest an increased number of CNS white matter lesions in patients with NAION.
authors.affiliation: UCLA Optic Neuropathy Center, Jules Stein Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology 90024-7005, USA.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Hepler
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Lufkin
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001167:Arteritis; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018917:Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic / Q000175:diagnosis*