title: Optic Neuritis Associated or Not with TNF Antagonists in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Acute optic neuritis [ON] is an inflammatory condition affecting the optic nerve. Clinicians should suspect optic neuritis in cases of painful and rapidly progressive loss of central visual field. This condition may be associated with a multitude of diseases, and mostly with multiple sclerosis [MS] where it may present as an initial symptom. The literature reports that optic neuritis and MS occur in patients with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] before and after the era of anti-tumour necrosis factor-α [TNFα] drugs. At the present moment, there is little consensus for managing this complication, currently treated with corticosteroids and discontinuation of the causative agents.
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected cases through a retrospective multicentre European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation CONFER [COllaborative Network For Exceptionally Rare case reports] project. We also performed a comprehensive retrospective search of the available literature on this topic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We report herein 12 new cases of ON, including 10 under anti-TNF therapy, collected through the CONFER project. We also compare characteristics of ON associated or not with anti-TNFα agents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The exceptional and current observation of distant family history of MS in 17% of our patients who developed ON, despite the small number and the lack of a control arm, might be an important signal that should be taken into account in our therapeutic strategies in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Hepato-gastroenterology Unit, Notre-Dame de Grâce Hospital, Gosselies, Belgium Benjamin.alexandre@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Alexandre
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Yvoir, Belgium.
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Vandermeeren
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Université Catholique de Louvain, St-Luc Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dewit
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Université Catholique de Louvain, St-Luc Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moreels
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Nanne
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: de Boer
authors.affiliation: Darlington Memorial and Bishop Auckland Hospitals, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, Durham, UK.
authors.forename: Anjan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dhar
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Kloof Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ziady
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Shaare-Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Ariella Bar-Gil
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Shitrit
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Sao Paolo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flavio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Steinwurz
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Zvezdara, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Njegica
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jojic
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Therapy University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Costantino
authors.affiliation: Scientific Support Unit, Université Catholique de Louvain, Yvoir, Belgium.
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bihin
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Yvoir, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Rahier
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Katsanos
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068582:Certolizumab Pegol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D000069285:Infliximab / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000069285:Infliximab; D000068879:Adalimumab; D000068582:Certolizumab Pegol
keywords: Inflammatory bowel disease; anti-TNF; multiple sclerosis; optic neuritis; papillitis; retrobulbar neuritis