Professional paper

Correlation values of initial visual acuity and visual evoked potentials in patients with optic neuritis with or without demyelination

Davor Galetović ; Clinical Hospital Center Split, Eye clinic

Abstract

Idiopathic optic neuritis is an idiopathic optic nerve inflammation which can develop separately or together with disseminated demyelizing disease. The diagnosis of clinically defined multiple sclerosis demands at least two separate episodes of neurological symptoms and two anatomically and time separated demyelination lesions. That is the reason why brain magnetic resonance is one of the most important factors for multiple sclerosis diagnosis. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between initial visual
acuity and visual evoked potentials in patients with and without positive findings on brain magnet resonance, and to evaluate the therapy and prognosis of an elevated risk of developing multiple sclerosis.
This retrospective study included 56 patients hospitalized in the Department of Ophthalmology between 1st January 2004 and 31st December 2007. The criterion needed to be included was the presence of acute optic neuritis. Visual acuity was determined with Snellen optotypes. Among other clinical testing, we performed visual evoked potential recording and brain magnet resonance.
The incidence of optic neuritis in our department was 2,8/100000 inhabitants. Initial visual acuity ranged from light perception to 1,0, and the mean value was 0,32. Visual evoked potential latencies ranged from 82 to 164 ms, and the mean value was 126,82 ms. Positive brain magnet resonance findings for demielination were found in 34 (61.7%) of patients. Statistically significant difference in visual evoked potential latencies was found among patients with positive and negative brain magnet resonance findings (Mann-Whitney U test, Z = 3,062, p = 0,002), while there was a difference in initial visual acuity in the same groups, but it was not statistically significant (Mann-Whitney U test, Z = -1.124, p = 0.261).
The results of this study indicate that the incidence of more severe optic neuritis is greater in patients with brain demyelinating lesions than in those with normal brain MR findings, which have lowered visual acuity and significantly prolonged VEP latencies. In the contest of this study, we can appraise the prognostic value and the risk of developing clinically defined multiple sclerosis (CDMS). According to these results, future therapy can be adjusted with more success, especially today when prompt immunomodulatory therapy is being proposed with the goal of prolonging the development of CDMS.

Keywords

optic neuritis; multiple sclerosis; visual acuity; visual evoked potentials; incidence; Croatia

Hrčak ID:

41965

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/41965

Publication date:

28.10.2009.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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