title: Optic Neuritis in Korean Children: Low Risk of Subsequent Multiple Sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A relationship between optic neuritis and multiple sclerosis has previously been reported in non-Asian adults. We extended the investigation to Korean children.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We compared the clinical features, laboratory findings, and visual outcomes of optic neuritis between prepubertal children and postpubertal adolescents and evaluated the conversion rate of optic neuritis to multiple sclerosis in Korean children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective analysis of children less than 18 years of age presenting with optic neuritis at Pusan National University Hospital between January 2002 and December 2013. Outcomes and clinical, ophthalmologic, magnetic resonance imaging, and laboratory findings were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-six children (male:female, 1:1.2) were included. Follow-up duration was 16.3 ± 27.5 months in the prepubertal children (≤10 years, n = 13) and 8.2 ± 9.2 months in postpubertal adolescent (>10 years, n = 13) (P = 0.32). There was no significant difference between the prepubertal group and postpubertal group in clinical, ophthalmologic, magnetic resonance imaging, or laboratory findings. Of two patients (7.7%) with abnormal brain magnetic resonance images, one developed multiple sclerosis and the other developed acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. Of three patients (11.5%) with relapsing optic neuritis, two developed systemic lupus erythematosus and one developed multiple sclerosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The risk of developing multiple sclerosis after pediatric optic neuritis was low (7.7%). Abnormal brain magnetic resonance imaging and relapsing optic neuritis should alert the clinician to systemic or neurological disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Biochemical Research Institute, Busan, Korea. Electronic address: pink2129@naver.com.
authors.forename: Young Mi
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Biochemical Research Institute, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Biochemical Research Institute, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Min Jeong
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Biochemical Research Institute, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Min Jung
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Biochemical Research Institute, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung Hee
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kosin University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Gyu Min
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Yeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Biochemical Research Institute, Yangsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Yunjin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Biochemical Research Institute, Yangsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Ook
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Nam
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D014792:Visual Acuity
keywords: Korea; adolescent; child; multiple sclerosis; optic neuritis; pediatric