Multifocal Visual Evoked Potential a Sensitive, Specific Tool for Detecting Optic Neuritis
Multifocal visual evoked potentials (mVEP) is a method to diagnose optic pathway conditions by assessing visual evoked potentials as responses from multiple individual segments of the field of vision, allowing for objective information about amplitude to be combined with information on latency.
Fraser et al. conducted a cross-sectional study to determine if mVEP can detect evidence of optic neuritis (ON) and whether the results can differentiate between ON as a manifestation of multiple sclerosis (MS) and purely inflammatory ON.
The authors found that not only was mVEP a sensitive and specific tool for detecting optic neuritis, but there existed a significant difference in latency analysis findings between patient groups classified according to the McDonald MS criteria.
They conclude that if this latency pattern does reflect future clinical course, then the mVEP could provide a means of identifying those with a greater risk of future MS in the early post-acute stage of ON from those with white matter changes on MRI, thus helping physicians to determine optimal treatment strategies.
Optic neuritis usually develops in association with an autoimmune disorder that may be triggered by an infection. In some people, signs and symptoms of optic neuritis may be an indication of multiple sclerosis, a condition resulting in inflammation and damage to nerves in your brain and spinal cord.
Most people who experience a single episode of optic neuritis eventually recover their vision. Treatment with steroid medications may speed up vision recovery after optic neuritis.
Fraser et al. conducted a cross-sectional study to determine if mVEP can detect evidence of optic neuritis (ON) and whether the results can differentiate between ON as a manifestation of multiple sclerosis (MS) and purely inflammatory ON.
The authors found that not only was mVEP a sensitive and specific tool for detecting optic neuritis, but there existed a significant difference in latency analysis findings between patient groups classified according to the McDonald MS criteria.
They conclude that if this latency pattern does reflect future clinical course, then the mVEP could provide a means of identifying those with a greater risk of future MS in the early post-acute stage of ON from those with white matter changes on MRI, thus helping physicians to determine optimal treatment strategies.
