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Optic neuritis and MS

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Optic neuritis and MS
Posted: 04-29-08 07:35am

have been diagnosed with Optic Neuritis 4 years ago. Since then I have had 2 MRI's with nothing showiing. I have lost about 40% of vision in my right eye which is the same to this day. I frequently have tingling in hands and feet, along with a staggered gate. I have most recently in the ast 3 weeks just returned for ma trip to Cuba. since my return I have noticed that my lack of sexual desire is extreemly bothersome. I have no disire what so ever. Erectile difficulties are present. Thankfully my wife is very understanding. They say that exposure to the sun can bring systoms of MS to the surface. The doctors were concerned that I do have MS but not making a diagnosis. They say that just because nothing has shown up in the MRI's to indicate that I have this desease that does not mean that I do not have this condition.


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Multiple Sclerosis Answer A4034
Posted: 05-05-08 12:40pm

Optic neuritis is one of the most common symptoms of multiple sclerosis but the presence of optic neuritis is still not enough to confirm the diagnosis. Very indicative for MS is that symptoms come and go in episodes. At least 2 episodes are required to confirm MS and you had only one episode of optic neuritis.


Brain lesions (plaques) detected with an MRI together with optic neuritis are very strong evidence for having MS which is not in your case. In 50% of cases where MS is present with optic neuritis no plaques can be detected with an MRI. This means that you may have MS but it can’t be seen on an MRI.


There are additional diagnostic procedures for confirming or excluding MS: an examination of the cerebro-spinal liquor and a test for evocated electrical potentials.


Finally, other diseases with the same symptoms should be excluded before confirming MS. Optic neuritis can be also due to: viral-bacterial infections, autoimmune disorders (e.g. lupus), certain drugs (chloramphenicol and ethambutol) and the inflammation of vessels (vasculitis) that feed the optic nerve.





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