[Chronic pernicious course in multiple sclerosis with involvement of the optic nerves and total spinal sclerosis (diffuse spinal sclerosis) (author's transl)].

Four cases with the clinical diagnosis of chronic MS are presented, which, histologically, show large solitary demyelinated and gliotic areas involving almost the entire spinal cord over 12-25 segments as well as the optic chiasm. The abortive form of the neuromyelitis optical syndrome in MS is discussed. The additional involvement of the cerebral hemispheres suggests that the clinical and histological picture described is related to Schilder's disease.