Neurodegeneration plays a major role in multiple sclerosis (MS), in which it is thought to be the main determinant of permanent disability. However, the relationship between the immune response and the onset of neurodegeneration is still a matter of debate. Moreover, recent findings in MS patients raised the question of whether primary neurodegenerative changes can occur in the retina independe...

Demyelination is assumed to be the cause of the majority of cases of isolated optic neuritis. Because of the importance of establishing the presence of optic nerve dysfunction in patients suspected of having multiple sclerosis several new indices of optic nerve conduction have been reported including the visual evoked potential, the edge-light pupil cycle time, and the Pulfrich test. These meas...

InTRoDUCTIon Inflammatory, demyelinating optic neuritis is one of the most common optic neuropathies in young adults. It occurs idiopathically, or in association with multiple sclerosis, and follows a typical course of progressing visual dysfunction often with pain for one – two weeks, followed by significant resolution over the next few weeks. Due to the characteristic presentation and frequen...

OBJECTIVES To determine whether early recognition and detection of thrombocytosis in patients with giant cell arteritis can help secure an earlier diagnosis, and whether it can help differentiate cases of arteritic optic neuropathy from other forms of optic neuropathy. METHODS Medical and ophthalmologic records from 1993 to 1998 of the authors' patients with biopsy-proven temporal arteritis v...