title: Optic neuritis after anthrax vaccination.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the occurrence of optic neuritis after anthrax vaccination in two patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational case reports, review of literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  Description of clinical history, examination, neuroimaging, and further studies in two patients experiencing optic neuritis in temporal association with anthrax vaccination.
  
  
  METHODS
  Visual acuity, visual fields.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two patients, 39 and 23 years of age, were seen with acute optic neuritis 1 month and 2 weeks, respectively, after anthrax booster vaccination and successfully treated with intravenous methylprednisolone. The first patient had a typical presentation and course of unilateral retrobulbar optic neuritis with excellent visual recovery. The second patient had a bilateral anterior optic neuritis and has required chronic immunosuppression to maintain his vision. Retinal and optic nerve autoantibodies were present in the second patient. No cross-reactive epitopes between anthrax vaccine and retina/optic nerve were identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Optic neuritis is a potential adverse reaction of anthrax vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Wilford Hall Medical Center, 2200 Bergquist Drive, Lackland AFB, Texas 78236, USA.
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Kerrison
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lounsbury
authors.forename: Charles E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Thirkill
authors.forename: R Gary
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: Martha P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Schatz
authors.forename: Renata M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Engler
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D022122:Anthrax Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014794:Visual Fields
chemical_list: D022122:Anthrax Vaccines