title: Neurologic impairment 10 years after optic neuritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Participants enrolled in the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial have been observed for more than a decade to assess the relationship between optic neuritis and the development of clinically definite multiple sclerosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess neurologic disability 10 to 12 years after an initial episode of optic neuritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal follow-up of a clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial clinical centers performed standardized neurologic examinations, including an assessment of neurologic disability.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred twenty-seven patients who had developed clinically definite multiple sclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Functional Systems Scale and Expanded Disability Status Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The disability of most patients was mild, with 65% of patients having an Expanded Disability Status Scale score lower than 3.0. The degree of disability appeared to be unrelated to whether the baseline magnetic resonance imaging scan was lesion-free or showed lesions (P =.51). Among patients with baseline lesions, the degree of disability was unrelated to the number of lesions that were present on the scan (P =.14). Two patients died owing to severe multiple sclerosis, one of whom had no lesions revealed on the baseline scan.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most patients who develop clinically definite multiple sclerosis following an initial episode of optic neuritis will have a relatively benign course for at least 10 years.
authors.affiliation: Jaeb Center for Health Research, 15310 Amberly Drive, Tampa, FL 33647, USA.
authors.forename: Roy W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: Craig H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Robin L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Gal
authors.forename: Dongyuan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: M Tariq
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Bhatti
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Brodsky
authors.forename: Edward G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Buckley
authors.forename: Georgia A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Chrousos
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Corbett
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eggenberger
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Goodwin
authors.forename: Barrett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: David I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Keltner
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kupersmith
authors.forename: Neil R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Pamela S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Moke
authors.forename: Sarkis
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nazarian
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Orengo-Nania
authors.forename: Peyer J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Savino
authors.forename: William T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Shults
authors.forename: Jonathan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Trobe
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography