Cerebrospinal fluid myelin basic protein-like material in acute monosymptomatic optic neuritis.
BACKGROUND
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may provide markers of severity and outcome of optic neuritis.


METHODS
We examined the CSF from 29 patients with acute monosymptomatic optic neuritis (AMON) for content of myelin basic protein-like material (MBPLM) and correlated the levels with results of cranial magnetic resonance imaging. The length of the time from onset of AMON to the time of CSF collection did not exceed four weeks.


RESULTS
Only two patients (7%), one of whom developed an acute myelopathy one month after AMON, showed an elevated value of CSF MBPLM. No MBPLM was detected in 6 patients (21%), and other 21 (72%) had detectable levels of MBPLM but below the upper limit of normal of 0.1 ng/ml. The value of MBPLM was not significantly correlated with the interval to CSF sampling from onset of AMON or with severity of decreased visual acuity. The highest values of CSF MBLPM were observed among patients with severely decreased visual acuity and among patients with an abnormal MRI (13 of 27 i.e. 48%).


CONCLUSIONS
CSF MBPLM was rarely abnormal in AMON. However, CSF MBPLM may have potential value in reflecting disease activity, as the highest values were obtained among patients with CSF sampled soon after the maximum visual dysfunction was reached, with severe visual impairment, and with an abnormal MRI.
Frederiksen
J L
JL
Department of Neurology N16, Glostrup University Hospital, Denmark.
Whitaker
J N
JN
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein