title: Optic neuritis and risk of MS: differential diagnosis and management.
abstract: Optic neuritis, a cause of sudden vision loss, often heralds the onset of multiple sclerosis (MS) within the next few years. It is important to distinguish optic neuritis from other types of optic neuropathy so that treatment can be started promptly, possibly delaying the onset of MS.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Benjamin J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Osborne
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Volpe
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016899:Interferon-beta