104 Severe unilateral optic neuritis in multiple sclerosis

Introduction Optic neuritis (ON) results in acute loss of vision with pain on eye movement. It may be the first manifestation of multiple sclerosis (MS) and usually follows a resolving course. Here we describe five patients with MS who developed severe unilateral ON resulting in persistent visual loss without significant resolution. Methods A retrospective clinical review of five cases identified from a database of 550 patients with MS. Results All patients were female and the mean age was 30 years at onset (range 25–40). All patients had no light perception at diagnosis, and received treatment with high dose intravenous methylprednisolone. Two patients also had plasma exchange. All of the patients were subsequently treated with immunomodulatory therapy. The patients were followed for a mean period of 13.3 years (range 2 months to 31 years). None of the patients had significant improvement in their visual acuity, with most achieving vision of 6/60. The mean retinal nerve fibre layer thickness was 66.33 microns (range 46–98 microns) in the affected eye, compared to 86.7 microns (69–105 microns) in the unaffected eye. All patients were aquaporin-4 antibody negative and oligoclonal band positive, with the MRI brain and spine being diagnostic for MS. Interestingly, none of the patients developed significant symptoms in the contralateral eye with vision of 6/5. All patients had an EDSS score of 4.0 predominantly due to visual impairment. Conclusion Severe unilateral ON is rarely seen in MS. This case series highlights a phenotypically distinct group of female MS patients with severe unilateral ON, and no improvement in visual acuity after prolonged follow-up and despite treatment with steroids and potent immune therapies. In such patients, where the diagnosis of MS is confirmed by MRI and CSF analysis, the patient might be reassured that visual loss in the fellow eye is unlikely. References . Wilhelm H, Schabet M. The diagnosis and treatment of optic neuritis. Deutsches Arzteblatt ...