title: The time course and phenotype of Uhthoff phenomenon following optic neuritis.
abstract: As there is little information regarding the recovery from Uhthoff phenomenon (UP) in the multiple sclerosis (MS) literature, the objective of this study was to assess the phenotypes of UP. A one-page questionnaire was sent to 80 consecutive optic neuritis (ON) patients seen in a tertiary neuro-ophthalmology clinic. Of the 48 responders to the questionnaire, 52% reported experiencing UP, with a range of follow-up from 1 to 20 years. Only 16% had resolution of UP, all this occurred within 8 weeks of the onset of ON. Of the MS patients with UP, 88% experienced non-visual heat-related phenomenon compared with 30% without UP. The presence of UP may have a more general phenotypic significance. If full recovery from UP has not occurred within the first 2 months from the onset of ON, then recovery appears to be uncommon and may therefore be a surrogate marker of remyelination in future drug trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuro-ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK. manuscript@clarefraser.com
authors.forename: Clare L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.forename: Indran
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Davagnanam
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radon
authors.forename: Gordon T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Plant
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001831:Body Temperature; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D010641:Phenotype; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013995:Time