title: Visual pathway abnormalities were found in most multiple sclerosis patients despite history of previous optic neuritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It was to investigate visual field (VF) abnormalities in a group of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in the remission phase and the presence of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesions in the optic radiations.
  
  
  METHODS
  VF was assessed in 60 participants (age range 20-51 years): 35 relapsing-remitting MS patients [20 optic neuritis (+), 15 optic neuritis (-)] and 25 controls. MRI (3-Tesla) was obtained in all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Visual parameters were abnormal in MS patients as compared to controls. The majority of VF defects were diffuse. All patients except one had posterior visual pathways lesions. No significant difference in lesion number, length and distribution was noted between patients with and without history of optic neuritis. One patient presented homonymous hemianopsia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Posterior visual pathway abnormalities were found in most MS patients despite history of previous optic neuritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmo-Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas SP, Brazil. stellamccastro@gmail.com
authors.forename: Stella Maris Costa
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Damasceno
authors.forename: Benito Pereira
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Damasceno
authors.forename: Jose Paulo de
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Vasconcellos
authors.forename: Fabiano
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: Josie Naomi
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Iyeyasu
authors.forename: Keila Monteiro de
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Carvalho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000503:physiopathology; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult