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. 2024 Dec;82(12):1-7.
doi: 10.1055/s-0044-1792093. Epub 2024 Dec 15.

Optic neuritis in demyelinating diseases: study of 38 cases

João Marcos Campos Ferreira  1   2 , Cristiane Rebello Gomes de Souza Fontes  2 , Carolina do Val Ferreira Ramos  2 , Osvaldo J M Nascimento  1
Affiliations

Optic neuritis in demyelinating diseases: study of 38 cases

João Marcos Campos Ferreira et al. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2024 Dec.

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Background: Optic neuritis is an inflammation of the optic nerve caused by genetic factors, external influences, and the activation of cross-reactive immune responses to infections.

Objective: To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients presenting optic neuritis as the initial symptom of some demyelinating diseases, divided among multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-immunoglobulin G (MOG-IgG)-associated disorders (MOGADs).

Methods: Thirty-eight patients who had optic neuritis as their first symptom and later developed MS, NMOSD, or MOGADs were analyzed.

Results: There were thirty-four female patients (90%) and 4 male patients (10%); 23 (60%) were white and 15 (40%) were black. The most frequent definitive diagnosis was MS, with 24 (63%) cases, followed by NMOSD with 12 (32%) cases, and MOGADs with 2 (5%) cases. Regarding age, 9 (24%) were under 20 years old, 19 (50%) were between 20 and 30 years old, 6 (21%) were between 31 and 40 years old, and 2 (5%) were over 41 years old. As for the time to diagnosis, MS required 54 months in the public sector and 12 months in the private sector. Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder took 108 months in the private sector and 14.5 months in the public sector, while MOGADs averaged 2 months in the private sector.

Conclusion: Patients with optic neuritis as the initial symptom were predominantly female, aged between 21 and 40 years, and of predominantly white ethnicity, with a higher prevalence of MS. Additionally, a direct relationship between the healthcare sector and the time to diagnosis became evident.

Antecedentes: A neurite óptica é uma inflamação do nervo óptico desencadeada por diversos fatores, incluindo os aspectos genéticos, as influências externas e a ativação de resposta imune cruzada a infecções.

Objetivo: Descrever as características clínicas e epidemiológicas dos pacientes que apresentaram neurite óptica como sintoma inicial de alguma doença desmielinizante, divididas entre esclerose múltipla (EM), distúrbio do espectro da neuromielite óptica (DENMO)e mielina oligodendrócito glicoproteína anticorpo associada à doença (MOGAD). MéTODOS: Trinta e oito pacientes que tiveram neurite óptica como primeiro sintoma e posteriormente EM, neuromielite óptica ou MOGAD) foram analisados.

Resultados: Trinta e quatro pacientes eram do sexo feminino (90%), e 4, do sexo masculino (10%); 23 (60%) eram brancos, e 15 (40%), pretos. O diagnóstico definitivo mais frequente foi EM 24 (63%) casos, seguido DENMO 12 (32%) e MOGAD 2 (5%). Em relação à idade, 9 (24%) possuem idade inferior a 20 anos, 19 (50%) entre 20 e 30 anos, 6 (21%) entre 31 e 40 anos e 2 (5%) idade superior a 41 anos. Quanto ao tempo para diagnóstico, a EM necessitou de 54 meses no sistema público e no privado 12 meses, a DENMO 108 meses no setor privado e 14,5 meses no sistema público e a MOGAD levou uma média de 2 meses no setor privado. CONCLUSãO: Conclui-se que pacientes que apresentaram neurite óptica como sintoma inicial são do sexo feminino, na faixa etária entre 21 e 40 anos, de etnia predominantemente branca, e tiveram maior prevalência de EM. Além disso, ficou clara a relação direta do setor de saúde com o tempo para o diagnóstico.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

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