Paediatric optic neuritis: factors leading to unfavourable outcome and relapses

ObjectivesTo identify prognostic factors associated with poor visual recovery and chronic relapsing diseases, for example, multiple sclerosis (MS), in children with optic neuritis (ON) at onset.MethodsThis multicentre retrospective study included 102 children with a first ON episode between 1990 and 2012. The primary criterion was poor visual recovery determined by visual acuity, and the secondary was relapses following ON.ResultsMedian age was 11 years, 66% were girls and mean follow-up was 24 months. 58% of children were diagnosed with idiopathic isolated ON, 22% had MS, 5% had Devic’s neuromyelitis optica and 6% chronic relapsing inflammatory ON. Complete visual acuity recovery rate was 57% (95% CI=[46%-69%]) at 6 months and 71% (95% CI=[60%-81%]) at 1 and 2 years but was lower in MS (p