The role of uveitis in demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system

An involvement of the visual system can be found in many neurologic diseases. Especially demyelinating processes of the central nervous system (CNS) and multiple sclerosis (MS) in particular present with a variety of ophthalmological abnormalities. While optic neuritis (ON) is known to be a positive predictor for the development of MS and can be considered a symptom of the disease, the high frequency of uveitis observed in MS patients seems to occur rather in the context of a general predisposition for autoimmune disorders. However, MS-associated uveitis can precede the onset of neurological symptoms by many years and shows response to treatment with steroids and interferons, suggesting the presence of similar underlying pathogenic mechanisms. Therefore, further studies are warranted in order to reveal whether administration of early immunomodulatory therapy can delay or even prevent the clinical manifestation of MS in a distinct subgroup of patients presenting with uveitis.