JUL 17, 2019
Neuro-Ophthalmology/Orbit
Researchers investigated differences in clinical features and visual outcomes of patients with optic neuritis (ON) who were negative or positive for aquaporin-4 antibodies.
Study design
This retrospective cohort study included 57 patients with a first episode of inflammatory ON. Investigators compared the seropositive and seronegative groups' clinical features at onset and final visual outcomes at 6 months.
Outcomes
Patients in the seronegative group had fewer recurrences of ON than those in the seropositive group, but the difference was not significant (35% vs. 58%, P=0.14). The groups showed no differences in visual acuity at baseline or after 6 months. Poor vision during a first attack, however, was associated with worse vision at 6 months.
Limitations
The study was limited by its retrospective nature and relatively small sample size.
Clinical significance
The authors concluded that AQP4-Ab positive patients showed no evidence of having poorer visual acuity than AQP4-Ab negative participants at 6 months. However, the authors noted that patients with a lower visual acuity at baseline were more likely to have poorer vision at 6 months.