Young Mi Kim1, Hye Young Kim2, Min Jeong Cho2, Min Jung Kwak2, Kyung Hee Park2, Gyu Min Yeon3, Yunjin Lee4, Sang Ook Nam4. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Biochemical Research Institute, Busan, Korea. Electronic address: pink2129@naver.com. 2. Department of Pediatrics, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Biochemical Research Institute, Busan, Korea. 3. Department of Pediatrics, Kosin University Hospital, Busan, Korea. 4. Department of Pediatrics, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Biochemical Research Institute, Yangsan, Korea.
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. OBJECTIVES: 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. CONCLUSION: 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.
BACKGROUND: A relationship between optic neuritis and multiple sclerosis has previously been reported in non-Asian adults. We extended the investigation to Korean children. OBJECTIVES: 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. CONCLUSION: 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.