Progression of optic neuritis to multiple sclerosis: an 8-year follow-up study.
OBJECTIVE
The relationship between acute monosymptomatic optic neuritis (AON) and subsequent multiple sclerosis (MS) is still doubtful. We investigated the risk of developing MS in patients from North Bavaria, who were suffering from AON.


METHODS
Twenty-nine patients with clinical evidence of AON were included in the study. Initial evaluation included brain resonance imaging (MRI) and a clinical neurological examination. Follow-up examinations were performed after 72-108 months (mean: 96 months) in 26 patients (three patients were lost to follow-up) and consisted of a second complete neurological examination. Diagnosis of MS was established according to the criteria of Poser CM, Paty DW, Scheinberg L. New diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis: guidelines for research protocols. Ann Neurol 1983:13:227-231.


RESULTS
At follow-up, 14 of 26 patients (54%) had converted to clinically definite MS. Nine patients (64%) had developed MS within 2 years after the onset of AON.


CONCLUSIONS
We observed the development of MS in 54% of the 26 investigated AON patients. The exceptional feature of the present study was the relatively long follow-up period of 8 years.
Druschky
A
A
Department of Neurology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Heckmann
J G
JG
Claus
D
D
Katalinic
A
A
Druschky
K F
KF
Neundörfer
B
B
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors