Pediatric Devic's neuromyelitis optica.
OBJECTIVE
Neuromyelitis optica (Devic's disease) is a rare clinical syndrome of unilateral or bilateral optic neuritis (ON) and transverse myelitis (TM) occurring within an 8-week time interval. All reports mainly involve adults and describe a poor neurologic and ophthalmic clinical course without specific attention to their few pediatric cases. The purpose of this study was to develop a clinical profile in the pediatric population.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review over 15 years revealed nine cases of neuromyelitis optica. A literature search was undertaken and all cases of pediatric neuromyelitis optica were tabulated and analyzed separately.


RESULTS
The average age of onset was 7 years with a preceding viral prodrome in all patients. The optic neuritis was bilateral in eight of nine patients (89%). Visual loss ranged from 20/30 to light perception. Moderate anterior disc edema was seen in all 17 affected eyes. The clinical course was characterized by a rapid visual and neurologic recovery. The average follow up was 5.3 years, with five patients followed for 6 years or longer. None of the nine patients had any visual or neurologic recurrence or other significant subsequent illness. Visual system follow up showed 20/20 in each eye of all patients with mild optic atrophy, identified in 47% of eyes.


CONCLUSIONS
Devic's neuromyelitis optica occurs in the pediatric population as a distinct clinical entity with an excellent prognosis for visual and systemic recovery and no future recurrence or long-term sequelae.
Jeffery
A R
AR
Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Buncic
J R
JR
D017668:Age of Onset; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology