Etiological profile of presumptive optic neuritis in China

Abstract

Objective: To determine the diagnoses in a population of patients with presumed optic neuritis in China and compare the spectrum of etiologies with those in western countries. Methods: We studied a group of 204 patients referred with a presumptive diagnosis of optic neuritis (ON) to a teaching hospital. We conducted detailed medical and family history, thorough ophthalmologic and neurological examinations, and laboratory tests including neuroimaging. Patients were diagnosed using international diagnostic criteria.Results: 113 cases (55.4%) met ON criteria, among which 83 cases (73.5%) were considered as idiopathic demyelinating optic neuritis (IDON). Brain MRI white matter lesions were found in 11 of 78 (14.1%) clinically "isolated" IDON cases. Tuberculosis meningitis accounted for 2 cases and syphilis for 1. The cause of 26 cases (23.0%) remained uncertain, but these cases were still likely to be IDON accompanied by secondary axonal degeneration. Thirty-eight cases (18.6%) were confirmed to be Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy Etiological profile of presumptive optic neuritis in China

Demographic pattern and clinical characteristics of optic neuritis in a tertiary eye care centre

“…In our study female predominance was seen similar to the study in Japan (Suehiro et al, 2002) and China (Zhang et al, 2008). However male predominance was seen in previous studies from Nepal (Das H et al, 2010;Shrestha R et al, 2007).…”

“…In our study 58% had painful ocular movement almost similar to Indian study -66% (Saxena et al, 2010), but more than in the studies from China-42.9% (Zhang et al, 2008), Chandigarh-33.4% (Jain et al, 1980), Eastern Nepal-33.33% (Das H et al, 2010) and Japan-17.6% (Suehiro et al, 2002). …”

“…Unilateral optic neuritis was more than bilateral optic neuritis similar to the study in India (Saxena et al, 2010), China (Zhang et al , 2008) and Japan (Suehiro et al, 2002). In contradiction study from Eastern Nepal (Das H et al, 2010) showed more cases of bilateral optic neuritis and another centre in Kathmandu showed equal number of unilateral and bilateral cases (Shrestha R et al, 2007).…”

“…None of the study cases were diagnosed as multiple sclerosis similar to studies from China (Zhang et al, 2008) and India (Jain et al, 1980). In contradictory study from Japan (Suehiro et al, 2002) reported 22.8% cases of optic neuritis associated with multiple sclerosis.…”

“…The mean age was 34.32 ± 13.72 years similar to the study from Eastern Nepal (Das H et al, 2010) and Iran (Farzad Fatehi et al, 2012). But studies from China (Zhang et al, 2008) and India (Saxena et al, 2010) reported optic neuritis more prevalent in the younger age group.…”