Retinal and Choroidal Vascularity Evaluation in Pediatric Radiologically Isolated Syndrome and Multiple Sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: To assess vessel density (VD) and flow of retinal plexuses and peripapillary region related with the pediatric radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS) and multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: We analyzed 24 eyes of 12 participants with the diagnosis of RIS, 24 eyes of 12 participants with the diagnosis of MS, and 26 eyes of 13 age- and sex-matched healthy controls in this prospective, cross-sectional study. The superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus, foveal avascular zone, and the flow of choriocapillaris were investigated using optical coherence tomography angiography. RESULTS: Parafoveal VD and all subregion parameters in SCP were significantly decreased in the MS group compared with the controls, whereas only nasal and inferior VD were significantly decreased in the pediatric RIS group compared with the controls. Ganglion cell layer (GCL) thickness of all subregions of the inner ring was significantly decreased in the pediatric MS group compared with the control group. No significant difference was observed between the pediatric RIS group and the control group regarding thickness. CONCLUSIONS: We showed lower parafoveal VD in all subregions of SCP in pediatric MS, whereas only parafoveal nasal and inferior VD were decreased in pediatric RIS. GCL thickness of inner ring was significantly decreased in the pediatric MS, whereas GCL thickness did not change in pediatric RIS. Therefore, a decrease of parafoveal nasal and inferior VD without a decrease in thickness implies an early impairment of microvasculature in the RIS before impairment of thickness and that microvascular alterations begin from highly vascular superficial parafovea.

A multicenter study of radiologically isolated syndrome in children and adolescents: Can we predict the course?

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate clinical characteristics, imaging features and etiological profile of Radiologically Isolated Syndrome (RIS) along with clinical and radiological follow-up. METHODS: Demographic, clinical and radiological data of patients younger than 18 years fulfilling the criteria for RIS were retrospectively analyzed. RIS was defined by the detection of lesions meeting the revised 2010 McDonald Criteria for dissemination in space on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the absence of any symptoms of demyelinating disease or an alternative cause for the MRI findings. RESULTS: There were total 69 patients (38 girls, 31 boys). The median age at index MRI was 15.7 years, and median follow-up time was 28 months. The most common reason for neuroimaging was headache (60.9%). A first clinical event occurred with median 11 months in 14/69 (20%) of cases. Those with oligoclonal bands (OCB) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and follow-up longer than 3 years were more likely to experience a clinical event (p<0.05): 25% of those with OCB manifested clinical symptoms within the first year and 33.3% within the first two years compared to 6.3% and 9.4%, respectively in those without OCB. Radiological evolution was not associated with any variables: age, sex, reason for neuroimaging, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level, elevated IgG index, OCB positivity, total number and localization of lesions, presence of gadolinium enhancement, achievement of 2005 criteria for DIS and duration of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Children and adolescents with RIS and CSF OCB should be followed-up for at least 3 years in order to detect any clinical symptoms suggestive of a demyelinating event. Because disease-modifying treatments are not approved in RIS and no consensus report justifies their use especially in pediatric RIS, close follow-up of OCB-positive patients is needed for early recognition of any clinical event and timely initiation of specific treatment.

Probable association between mRNA COVID-19 vaccine and opsoclonus-myoclonus-ataxia syndrome.

Opsoclonus-myoclonus-ataxia syndrome (OMAS) in children is most often of paraneoplastic origin, but it can also result from infectious processes, toxic and metabolic disorders, and organic events that cause damage to the brainstem or cerebellum. Post-vaccination OMAS has also been reported. We report the case of a 15-year-old girl who developed OMAS 24 hours after her first dose of mRNA COVID-19 (BioNTech) vaccine.