Seoul National University Hospital study finds high vision recovery in pediatric optic neuritis

A multi-center study led by Seoul National University Hospital has revealed that most pediatric patients with optic neuritis experience significant vision recovery within six months of treatment. The K-PONS study, involving 31 tertiary medical institutions in South Korea, tracked 44 patients under the age of 18.

Among the 38 patients who completed the six-month follow-up, 78.9% of those who initially presented with low vision (15 out of 19 patients) successfully recovered to high vision levels. The research noted that no cases showed a worsening of vision during the observation period.

The study also identified distinct immunological characteristics in Asian pediatric patients compared to Western populations. Approximately 70.5% of the participants tested positive for MOG antibodies, a rate significantly higher than the 54% reported in North American studies. Notably, no cases of AQP4 antibody positivity, which is common in neuromyelitis optica, were detected in the cohort.

While vision recovery was generally positive, researchers noted that 25% of patients who completed a one-year follow-up experienced a relapse, highlighting the need for long-term monitoring. The findings were published in the Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology.