Recurrent inflammatory optic neuritis and neuromyelitis optica

Inflammatory optic neuritis (ON) represents a frequent clinical situation in neurology and ophthalmology. When MRI and CSF analysis are normal, ON is considered idiopathic with a suspected viral etiology. However, in several cases either a recurrence or a myelitis may occur. In the first case, it is relapsing inflammatory optic neuritis (RION) and in the second case it is neuromyelitis optica (NMO). Nevertheless, predictive criteria of a recurrence or an extension of the disease to spinal cord remains unknown, excepted for anti-NMO IgG antibodies which are probably highly specific for a future evolution to NMO. In the present paper, the authors successively present the two clinical situations (RION and NMO) and attempt to summarize diagnostic and prognostic criteria. (C) 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.