Opticospinal multiple sclerosis in Iran.

Clinical course, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and cerebrospinal fluid data (CSF) on 20 patients among 520 with clinically definite multiple sclerosis (MS) according to the criteria of Poser et al., with opticospinal clinical presentation above 5 years and mean disease duration of 8+/-4.4 years were reviewed. The prevalence rate was 3.8%. The clinical course was relapsing-remitting (RR) for all patients. The mean age of onset was 24+/-8.2 years. The gender ratio was 2.3:1 female:male. First clinical presentation was spinal signs in 12 (60%), optic neuritis in 7 (35%) and simultaneous involvement of both eyes in 1 (5%) patient. No transverse myelitis (TM), sustained severe optic neuritis (SSON) or minor brain stem signs were recorded. No conversion to conventional MS (CMS) or secondary progressive MS (SPMS) was identified during the study period and no case had positive family history for the disease. The yearly number of attacks was 0.66+/-0.84, with mean Kurtzke expanded disability status scale (EDSS) of 2.5+/-1.2. All patients had 1 to 5 hemispheral T2 lesions in brain MRI, non-fulfilled Barkhof criteria for brain lesions. All had preventricular and 14 (70%) had juxtacortical lesions. None had gadolinium T1 enhanced lesions. No involvement of the brainstem or cerebellar structures was detected. Fifteen had 1 cervical lesion, five had 2 and four had 1 concomitant thoracic cord signal, all extending below three vertebral segments in sagittal planes with peripheral white matter location on the axial planes. Spinal fluid contained normal cell and protein with negative oligoclonal bands (OB).