Neurologic impairment 10 years after optic neuritis.
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.
Beck
Roy W
RW
Jaeb Center for Health Research, 15310 Amberly Drive, Tampa, FL 33647, USA.
Smith
Craig H
CH
Gal
Robin L
RL
Xing
Dongyuan
D
Bhatti
M Tariq
MT
Brodsky
Michael C
MC
Buckley
Edward G
EG
Chrousos
Georgia A
GA
Corbett
James
J
Eggenberger
Eric
E
Goodwin
James A
JA
Katz
Barrett
B
Kaufman
David I
DI
Keltner
John L
JL
Kupersmith
Mark J
MJ
Miller
Neil R
NR
Moke
Pamela S
PS
Nazarian
Sarkis
S
Orengo-Nania
Silvia
S
Savino
Peyer J
PJ
Shults
William T
WT
Trobe
Jonathan D
JD
Wall
Michael
M
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