Clinical, outcome and aetiological chacteristics of inflammatory optic neuropathies. A series of Algerian patients

Abstract

Introduction. Inflammatory optic neuropathies (ION) are frequent neuro ophthalmological emergencies. They often pose an etiological problem. Objectives. To study the clinical, radiological, etiological and evolutionary particularities of ION in Algerian patients. Patients and methods. Retrospective study of 23 patients, followed over a period of 6 years (from January 2016 to January 2022). All non-inflammatory causes were excluded, as well as any patient whose etiology was multiple sclerosis. Results. The etiologies identified were seropositive neuromyelitis optica (10 patients), seronegative forms (6 patients), idiopathic forms (4 patients), Mogopathies (2 patients) and one form related to an optic nerve glioma. Radiologically, optic nerve lesions with contrast were found in 9 patients whose causes varied between neuromyelitis optica, mogopathy and idiopathic forms. Discussion. Neuromyelitis optica seems to be the most frequent etiology, which is consistent with the literature. The response to the various immunological treatments is variable and depends on the proposed treatment and the earliness of its initiation. Nevertheless, a few cases of blindness have been reported despite optimal management. Conclusion. The management and prognosis of these conditions depend on the aetiology and the early initiation of treatment. Neuromyelitis optica dominates the causes in our series. The lesions observed on MRI centred on the optic nerve and their extent constitute an additional argument, helping the etiological research.