Histopathology of anterior parts of the optic pathway in patients with multiple sclerose.

Multiple sclerosis involves the anterior part of the optic pathway of 5 patients with clinically definite multiple sclerosis. No pathological changes were found in the retina. Plaques were found in all optic nerves, in two of three chiasms and in the optic track from one patient. Periphlebitis was found in three optic nerves, and in one chiasm. One patient had plaques as well as periphlebitis in the optic nerves and chiasm but did not show any changes in the brain or the spinal cord.