Purpose
To investigate mitochondrial DNA (mt-DNA) mutations in optic neuritis of unknow reason (ONUR) and to assess the pathogenic and differential diagnostic values of screening for mt-DNA mutations in ONUR.
Method
Thirty patients with ONUR were screened for mt-DNA mutations by using SSCP,mutation-specific primer PCR and sequencing.
Results
mt-DNA mutations were found in 12 out of the thirty patients.All of the mutations were at 11778 position,but no one at 3460 and 15257.
Conclusions
Quite a number of patients (12/30,40%) with ONUR were caused actually by mt-DNA mutation．Screening for mt-DNA mutation in these patients has a pathogenic and differential diagnostic significance.
(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,2000,16:78-79)
Objective To construct and evaluate a screening and diagnostic system based on color fundus images and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted screening for optic neuritis (ON) and non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). MethodsA diagnostic test study. From 2016 to 2020, 178 cases 267 eyes of NAION patients (NAION group) and 204 cases 346 eyes of ON patients (ON group) were examined and diagnosed in Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center of Sun Yat-sen University; 513 healthy individuals of 1 160 eyes (the normal control group) with normal fundus by visual acuity, intraocular pressure and optical coherence tomography examination were collected from 2018 to 2020. All 2 909 color fundus images were as the data set of the screening and diagnosis system, including 730, 805, and 1 374 images for the NAION group, ON group, and normal control group, respectively. The correctly labeled color fundus images were used as input data, and the EfficientNet-B0 algorithm was selected for model training and validation. Finally, three systems for screening abnormal optic discs, ON, and NAION were constructed. The subject operating characteristic (ROC) curve, area under the ROC (AUC), accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and heat map were used as indicators of diagnostic efficacy. ResultsIn the test data set, the AUC for diagnosing the presence of an abnormal optic disc, the presence of ON, and the presence of NAION were 0.967 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.947-0.980], 0.964 (95%CI 0.938-0.979), and 0.979 (95%CI 0.958-0.989), respectively. The activation area of the systems were mainly located in the optic disc area in the decision-making process. ConclusionAbnormal optic disc, ON and NAION, and screening diagnostic systems based on color fundus images have shown accurate and efficient diagnostic performance.
Plasma exchange (PE) is a therapeutic blood component replacement method. The blood of patients is first separated into plasma and blood cell components using a blood cell separator in vitro, the plasma containing harmful pathogenic substances is then discarded and replaced with the same volume of exchange solution. Finally the separated blood cells together with the exchange solution are returned back to the blood circulation of patients. By reducing the circulating antibodies, abnormal plasma proteins or cytokines and other pathogenic molecules, PE can block the disease process. PE has a good therapeutic effect on neuromyelitis optica-related optic neuritis (NMO-ON), which shows resistant to glucocorticoid therapy for the first onset. The American Society for Apheresis guideline evaluates PE for acute optic neuritis as a recommended grade 1B, type II indication. In the implementation of PE treatment for NMO-ON and other diseases, indications and contraindications should be strictly adhered to the guideline, treatment procedures and protocols should be optimized, common adverse events and its prevention and management should be known and alerted. It is important to conduct multi-center clinical cooperation and a high standard clinical randomized controlled study, to find out the optimal time window, the best protocol, and the associated factors for the efficacy and prognosis of PE in NMO-ON.
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an autoimmune inflammatory diseases of the central nervous systems (CNS) mainly affecting the optic nerves and spinal cord. It has the characteristics of high recurrence rate and poor prognosis. NMO related optic neuritis is a common neuro-ophthalmic disease which often results in permanent visual loss or even blindness. Aquaporin 4 (AQP4) antibody is a specific and pathogenic autoantibody in NMO patients. Although AQP4 is expressed in multiple tissues, NMO pathology is remarkably limited to the CNS. Corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive drugs are the standard managements for NMO patients, in order to reduce the relapses and the severity of the acute attack. Multiple avenues of investigation in the laboratory have significantly advanced our understanding of NMO pathophysiology, which is helpful for our understanding of immunologic and nonimmunologic mechanisms. Many offer significant means for NMO therapy by selectively targeting pathways. In the future, moving these agents from the bench to the bedside offers the opportunity to identify safe and effective therapies that limit CNS injury and preserve visual function.
ObjectiveTo observe and analyze the subtype-specific prognostic factors for visual recovery in patients with demyelinating optic neuritis (DON) after glucocorticoid pulse therapy. MethodsA retrospective cohort study. A total of 195 patients (249 eyes) with DON diagnosed by ophthalmology examination at Department of Ophthalmology, Xi'an People's Hospital (Xi'an Fourth Hospital) from January 2021 to December 2024 were included in the study. According to the results of serum antibody detection and clinical diagnostic criteria, the patients were divided into the neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD)-associated optic neuritis (ON) (NMOSD-ON) group, the myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antitide-associated ON (MOG-ON) group, and the double antibody negative ON group. They were 51 cases (58 eyes), 72 cases (103 eyes), and 72 cases (88 eyes) respectively. Baseline clinical data, imaging characteristics, and treatment protocols were collected. The primary endpoints were complete visual recovery [best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) ≥1.0] and moderate recovery (BCVA ≥0.5) at 3 months post-onset. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent prognostic factors for visual outcomes within each subtype. ResultsAt 3 months post-onset, complete recovery rates were 9 (15.5%, 9/58) in the NMOSD-ON group, 64 (62.1%, 64/103) in the MOG-ON group, and 31 (35.2%, 31/88) in the double-seronegative ON group. The results of multivariate regression analysis showed that age [odds ratio (OR) =0.901, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.854-0.950, P＜0.001] and peak visual acuity (OR=0.311, 95%CI 0.147-0.660, P=0.002) and the involvement of optic nerve length ≥1/2 (OR=3.849, 95%CI 1.083-13.682, P=0.037) were the influencing factors for the complete recovery of visual acuity in the affected eyes of the double antibody negative ON group. Age (OR=0.958, 95%CI 0.933-0.983, P=0.001) was the only influencing factor for the complete recovery of visual acuity in the affected eyes of the MOG-ON group. Peak visual acuity (OR=0.288, 95%CI 0.090-0.927, P=0.037) and optic nerve involvement length ≥1/2 (OR=19.974, 95%CI 1.905-209.559, P=0.013) were the influencing factors for the complete recovery of visual acuity in the affected eyes of the NMOSD-ON group. Age (OR=0.936, 95%CI 0.890-0.983, P=0.009), time from onset to intravenous infusion of methylprednisolone sodium succinate intervention (OR=0.854, 95%CI 0.759-0.961, P=0.009), optic disc edema (OR=4.405, 95%CI 1.108-17.512, P=0.035) and peak visual acuity (OR=0.13, 95%CI 0.046-0.365, P＜0.001) were the influencing factors for the moderate recovery of visual acuity in the affected eyes of the double antibody negative ON group. Peak visual acuity was the only influencing factor for the moderate recovery of visual acuity in the MOG-ON group (OR=0.060, 95%CI 0.010-0.352, P=0.002) and the NMOSD-ON group (OR=0.163, 95%CI 0.053-0.500, P=0.001). ConclusionsThe prognostic factors for visual recovery in patients with DON after glucocorticoid pulse therapy are subtype-specific. Peak visual acuity is a common predictor for all subtypes. For NMOSD-ON and double antibody-negative ON, attention should be paid to the length of optic nerve lesions. MOG-ON is age-related. Early intravenous infusion of methylprednisolone sodium succinate for double antiantibody negative ON is more likely to achieve moderate vision recovery.
ObjectiveTo investigate the alteration of retinal perfusion in aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4-ab) positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) patients by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).MethodsA case-control study. Forty-eight AQP4-ab positive NMOSD patients (96 eyes) and 20 age and gender matched healthy controls (40 eyes) were recruited from September 2015 to August 2017 at the Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University. Patients of both eyes were included in the groups. The patients were further divided into 4 subgroups (0 ON, 1 ON, 2 ON, 3+ ON group) according to the number of episodes of ON (0, 1, 2, or 3+) with respect to 30、22、31、13 eyes. 0 ON group had no history of ON episodes; 1 ON group, 2 ON group, and 3+ ON group had ON episodes 1, 2, ≥3 times, respectively. All patients underwent complete ophthalmological examinations including BCVA, visual field and OCTA examination. The BCVA was recorded for each eye using metric notation from the Snellen chart, and then converted to the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution. The central visual field was assessed using a Humphrey Field Analyzer 750 and the mean deviation (MD) was determined. OCTA scans of the optic disc (4.5 mm × 4.5 mm) and macula (6 mm × 6 mm) were acquired. Radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) vessel density, superficial capillary plexus vessel density (SVD), the thickness of ganglion cell and inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) were determined. The generalized estimating equations was performed to compare the difference of BCVA, MD, pRNFL thickness, GCIPL thickness, RPC vessel density and SVD among the groups and the correlations between retinal perfusion and retinal structure, visual function were analyzed. ResultsThe RPC vessel density and SVD were significant lower in the 0 ON group compared with healthy group (Wald χ2=7.190, 10.134; P＜0.01), however, the BCVA, pRNFL and GCIPL thickness were not significant difference between the two groups (Wald χ2=2.308, 1.020, 2.558; P＞0.05). The BCVA, visual field MD, RPC vessel density, SVD, pRNFL and GCIPL were significant lower in 1 ON, 2 ON and 3+ ON groups compared with healthy group and 0 ON group (Wald χ2=12.390, 11.346, 38.860, 18.040, 45.418, 26.608; P＜0.001 ), but the parameters had no significant difference among the three groups (P＞0.05). The RPC vessel density was significantly correlated with pRNFL thickness (β=0.372, standard error=0.018, P＜0.001), and the SVD was significantly correlated with GCIPL thickness (β=0.115, standard error=0.204, P＜0.001). The MD and BCVA was significantly correlated with peripapillary vessel density after adjustment for other variables (BCVA: β=0.025, standard error=0.005, P=0.000; visual field MD: β=0.737, standard error=0.185, P=0.000).ConclusionsSubclinical primary retinal vasculopathy may occur in NMOSD prior to ON attack, the ON attack may further impair visual function, retinal structure and perfusion, however, the extent of injure is not relevant with the increase of ON attack. The peripapillary vessel density might be a sensitive predictor of visual outcomes in NMOSD patients.
Neuromyelitis optica-related optic neuritis (NMO-ON) is a kind of severe optic nerve disease, which always leads to replase, poor prognosis, and even blindness. Aquaporin 4 antibody (AQP4-IgG) is the main diagnostic biomarker for neuromyelitis optica with high specificity. Serum myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody (MOG-IgG) is helpful for the diagnosis of AQP4-IgG negative patients. The study of biomarkers is helpful to deeply understand the pathogenesis of NMO-ON, help the diagnosis of the disease, and finally make precise treatment. Orbital MRI can help to differentiate MOG-IgG positive from AQP4-IgG positive neuromyelitis optica and optic neuritis, which is very important for the diagnosis of NMO-ON. At present, the standardized treatment of NMO-ON can be divided into two clinical stages: acute stage and remission stage. Corticosteroids and plasma exchange are the main treatments in acute stage, aiming at alleviating acute inflammatory reaction and improving prognosis. Immunosuppressive agents and biological agents are the main treatments in remission stage, aiming at preventing or reducing recurrence. With the development of the diagnosis and treatment of NMO-ON, we find that it is more and more important to strengthen the construction of neuro-ophthalmology team in China, establish clinical epidemiological database of NMO-ON, and carry out multi-centre, large-sample, prospective clinical control studies in China to provide evidence-based medicine for Chinese people. In addition, we need to strengthen efforts to establish and improve the diagnostic criteria for NMO-ON and the promotion of diagnostic and therapeutic criteria, and strive to improve the clinical diagnosis and treatment level of NMO-ON in China.
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are a group of inflammatory disorders of the central nervous system characterized by episodes of immune-mediated demyelination and axonal damage mainly involving optic nerves and spinal cord. Neuromyelitis optica related optic neuritis (NMO-ON) is a common neuro-ophthalmic disease which often results in permanent blindness. The discovery of aquaporin 4 antibodies confirms that neuromyelitis optica is a distinct disease entity different from multiple sclerosis. In patients with NMO-ON, the correct therapeutic approach has to recognize two distinct clinical situations: treatment of the acute attacks and prevention of the relapses. With the in-depth study of the pathogenesis of NMOSD, new treatments are emerging in different targets of the disease. This review gives an update of latest treatment of NMO-ON, emphasizing both current situation and future immunotherapy strategies.
Objective
To investigate the etiological distribution of the patients with optic neuritis in
China and compare the results with those in western countries.
Methods
Ophthalmological and neurological detailed clinical and laboratorial examinations were performed on 204 patients with primarily diagnosed optic neuritis (ON).
We determined the etiologies using international accepted diagnostic criteria.
Results
Among 113 patrents with ON, 83(73.5%) were considered as with idiopathic
demyelinating optic neuritis ( IDON). Sinusitis was common in these patients but was considered to be the probable cause of ON only in 4. Tuberculo-meningitis caused ON was found in 2 cases and syphilitic ON in 1. The causes of 23 cases (20.4%) were unknown.
Conclusions
Idiopathic demyelinating ON is the most common pathogeny of ON. Despite of
some minor differences of causes and prognosis, the etiology of presumed ON
in our population is similar to that reported in western countries.
(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,2006,22:367-369)
Objective To observe the clinical features and visual function of recurrent neuromyelitis optica (NMO). Methods Thirty-four patients with NMO were enrolled in this retrospective case series study. The patients included two males and 32 females. The average first onset age was (35.03plusmn;14.56) years old and the average recurrent rate were (4.24plusmn;2.45) times. The recurrent rate of optic neuritis (ON) ranged from two to 12 times. The recurrent rate of ON was two times in 15 eyes of 10 patients, ge;three times in 37 eyes of 24 patients. Vision acuity, direct ophthalmoscope, fundus pre-set lens examination, visual field and visual evoked potential (VEP) were evaluated. Clinical features were observed. The abnormal rate of optic nerve including optic edema and atrophy; abnormal rate of visual field including decreasing retinal sensitivity, central and paracentral scotoma, ring scotoma, half field defects, tunnel visual field, visual field centrality constriction; abnormal rate of VEP including Prolonged latent phase and/or decreasing amplitude of P100 wave from patients of first episode or recurrence was analyzed. Serum NMO-IgG was detected from 28 patients by indirect immunofluorescence technique to observe its positive rate. Results All patients were characterized by repeated episodes of ON and myelitis. The main clinical feature of ON was visual loss, and the main clinical features of myelitis included sensory disability, dyskinesia and vesicorectal disorder. Blindness rate was 41.67% after the first attack of ON, 33.33% after two relapses, and 64.86% after ge; three relapses. The difference of blindness rate between first attack and two episodes was not significant (chi;2=0.270,P=0.603). However, the blindness rate in patients having ge; three episodes was significantly higher than those having two episodes (chi;2=4.300,P=0.038). With recurrence rate increasing, the abnormal rate of the optic nerve (chi;2=6.750,P=0.034）and VEP（chi;2=6.990,P=0.030）increased. But the abnormal rate of visual field did not increase along with recurrent rate (chi;2=0.660,P=0.718). Seropositive rate of NMO-IgG did not differ significantly between patients with first attack ON and that with recurrent ON (chi;2=1.510,P=0.470). But the seropositive patients had significantly higher bilateral blindness rate than seronegative patients (chi;2=5.063,P=0.027). Conclusions NMO are characterized by recurrent ON and myelitis. Visual loss, sensory disability, dyskinesia and vesicorectal disorder are the main clinical features. With recurrence rate increasing, the blindness rate, abnormalities the optic nerve and the abnormity rate of VEP increase. Seropositive recurrent NMO patients have higher bilateral blindness rate than seronegative patients.
