Multifocal visual evoked potential latency analysis: predicting progression to multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE To monitor the difference in conversion rates to multiple sclerosis (MS) in 46 patients with optic neuritis between patients with multifocal visual evoked potential latency delay and those with normal latency. DESIGN Prospective case series. SETTING Metropolitan neuro-ophthalmology clinic. PARTICIPANTS Forty-six patients with optic neuritis who did not have a diagnosis of MS on enrollment in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Conversion to MS according to the McDonald criteria. RESULTS Analysis revealed that only 22 subjects had multifocal visual evoked potential latency delay. Over 1 year, 36.4% of patients with optic neuritis with latency delays progressed clinically to MS compared with 0% of those with normal latencies (P = .03, chi2). CONCLUSION This may indicate that multifocal visual evoked potential latency delay can assist in predicting progression to future MS.