Optic neuritis: oligoclonal bands increase the risk of multiple sclerosis.

In 1974 we examined 30 patients 0.5-14 (mean 5) years after acute unilateral optic neuritis (ON), when no clinical signs of multiple sclerosis (MS) were discernible. 11 of the patients had oligoclonal bands in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Re-examination after an additional 6 years revealed that 9 of the 11 ON patients with oligoclonal bands (but only 1 of the 19 without this CSF abnormality) had developed MS. The occurrence of oligoclonal bands in CSF in a patient with ON is--within the limits of the present observation time--accompanied by a significantly increased risk of the future development of MS. Recurrent ON also occurred significantly more often in those ON patients who later developed MS.