title: Progressive visual loss: an unusual presentation of multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Progressive visual loss as a presenting feature of multiple sclerosis (MS) is unusual. We report three cases who presented with progressive visual loss and in whom MS was diagnosed after other causes of progressive visual loss had been excluded. Two of the three had clinical evidence of neurological involvement outside the visual pathways. All had lesions consistent with MS outside the visual pathways on magnetic resonance imaging. Oligoclonal IgG bands were detected in the cerebrospinal fluid but not in the serum of two of the three patients. We conclude that MS should be considered in the differential diagnosis of progressive visual loss; however, other more common causes of visual loss must first be excluded, and there must be positive evidence to support a diagnosis of MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology Royal Brisbane Hospital Australia.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Read
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Pender