Atopic optic neuritis.
OBJECTIVE
To report a case of optic neuritis associated with atopic dermatitis, which may represent an optic nerve counterpart of atopic myelitis.


METHODS
Clinical examination, MRI, blood investigations.


RESULTS
A 34-year-old man with severe atopic dermatitis developed a steroid-responsive bilateral optic neuritis. Serum IgE was highly elevated, with high titers of mite-specific IgE. Clinical ophthalmological fluctuations paralleled those of atopic dermatitis.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical features and parallel fluctuations strongly suggest that the patient's optic neuritis was related to atopic dermatitis. This atopic optic neuritis may represent the optic nerve equivalent of atopic myelitis.
Constantinescu
C S
CS
Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK. cris.constantinescu@nottingham.ac.uk
Thomas
M
M
Zaman
A G
AG
D000328:Adult; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000276:immunology; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000276:immunology; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D007073:Immunoglobulin E