Clinical analysis of the etiology of optic neuritis in patients at different ages in china.

Abstract

To determine the etiology of optic neuritis in patients of different ages in China. Records of optic neuritis patients who were hospitalized in the Department of Neuro-ophthalmology, General PLA Hospital, Beijing, between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 132 patients were divided into three groups by age. The percentage of patients aged ≤ 16 years, 16-45 years and >45 years were 17.4% (23/132), 54.6% (72/132), and 28.0% (37/132) respectively. The distribution of etiologies differed significantly among the three groups (X2=23.2, P=0.026). The percentage of idiopathic demyelinating optic neuritis was the highest in the 16-45 group (44.4%), and the proportion of neuromyelitis optical was the highest in the ≤ 16 years group. Infectious optic neuritis was more frequently seen in patients aged ≤ 16 years and >45 years. The source of infection was viral (n=2), nasosinusitis (n=1) and bacterial (n=1) in the ≤ 16 years group and neurosyphilis (n=3) and nasosinusitis (n=1) in the >45 years group. The percentage of paraneoplastic syndrome in the >45 years group was 8.11% (3/37). The etiology of optic neuritis in patients at various ages differed significantly.