title: Effect of optic neuritis on progressive axonal damage in multiple sclerosis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this research was to study the effect of optic neuritis (ON) on axonal damage in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Specifically, we compared changes over 2 years in the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) between affected and contralateral eyes in MS patients with a prior history of ON.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four patients with one unilateral definitive episode of ON were included and underwent a complete ophthalmic examination, optical coherence tomography (OCT), scanning laser polarimetry, visual evoked potentials (VEP) and pattern electroretinogram (pERG). All patients were re-evaluated at 12 and 24 months. Parameters were compared between ON-affected and contralateral eyes in an initial exploration and over the course of the follow-up. Correlations between parameter changes were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RNFL thickness and functional parameters showed more affection in ON eyes (p ≤ 0.05), but changes in measurements during the study were similar between both groups of eyes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Progressive axonal loss can be detected in the optic nerve, but ON is not a risk factor for increased chronic damage in MS patients without ophthalmic relapses. Loss of the RNFL is caused by progressive degeneration associated with the disease.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, Miguel Servet University Hospital, Zaragoza, Spain. egmvivax@yahoo.com
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garcia-Martin
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pueyo
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ara
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Almarcegui
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pablo
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dolz
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sancho
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Fernandez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001284:Atrophy; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004596:Electroretinography; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D055351:Retinal Neurons / Q000473:pathology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D057109:Scanning Laser Polarimetry; D013030:Spain; D013997:Time Factors; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014794:Visual Fields; D055815:Young Adult