Taoufik Boubga, Abdellah Taous, Maha Ait Berri, Tarik Boulahri
Journal: Medpeer Publisher
ISSN: 3066-2737
Volume: 2
Issue: 11
Date of Publication: 2025/11/02
Introduction: Optic neuritis (ON) is an inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the optic nerve, frequently associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) . The epidemiology and clinical spectrum of ON in North African populations remain poorly described.
Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 20 cases of ON diagnosed at Moulay Ismail Hospital, Meknes, Morocco, from 2016 to 2024. Clinical presentation, imaging, laboratory findings, and progression to MS were reviewed.
Results: Patients ranged from 17–56 years (mean age 33 ± 11.3 years); 75% were female. Eleven cases were unilateral and nine bilateral. Ocular pain occurred in 50% and papilledema in 35%. Visual field and visual evoked potential (VEP) abnormalities were found in 85% and 80% of patients, respectively . Brain MRI revealed optic nerve thickening in 25% of patients. Three patients (15%) developed MS during follow-up. The incidence of optic disc swelling was higher than that reported in the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial (ONTT) , whereas the frequency of ocular pain, periventricular plaques, and MS development was lower.
Conclusion: Moroccan patients with ON exhibit distinct clinical and imaging characteristics compared with Western and Middle Eastern cohorts , suggesting potential ethnic and environmental variations in disease expression.
Optic neuritis; Multiple sclerosis; MRI; Morocco
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