[Leber hereditary optic neuropathy: differential diagnosis]

J Fr Ophtalmol. 2022 Nov;45(8S1):S9-S16. doi: 10.1016/S0181-5512(22)00445-4.
[Article in French]

Abstract

The diagnosis of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy is suspected in the siblings of an affected person that complains of a decrease in visual acuity. It can also be suspected in a young subject, especially a male, with no medical history that presents with an optic neuropathy. Leber hereditary optic neuropathy is a diagnosis of exclusion. The search for differential diagnoses is essential in all cases, even when a mutation of the mitochondrial DNA was found in the patient of in a healthy carrier maternal relative. This is the interest of multimodal imaging and electrophysiology that allow to exclude retinal pathology mimicking optic neuropathy. A neuroradiological assessment must be systematically prescribed to eliminate a compressive lesion and/or intracranial hypertension. This assessment also provides information on a possible hypersignal of the optic nerve, the appearance of which can be an argument for orientation towards different causes of optic neuritis. Finally, a deficiency or toxic cause must be ruled out.

Keywords: Alcohol; Alcool; Déficit vitaminique; Electrophysiology; MOGAD : désordre associé aux anticorps antiglycoprotéine oligodendrocytaire de la myéline Neuropathie optique toxique; MOGAD: Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody-Associated Disease; Maculopathie; Maculopathy; Multiple sclerosis; NMOSD : maladies du spectre de la neuromyélite optique; NMOSD: Neuro Myelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders; Névrite optique; OCT; Optic neuritis; Sclérose en plaques; Stargardt; Toxic optic neuropathy; Vitamin deficiency; Électrophysiologie.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Optic Atrophy, Hereditary, Leber* / diagnosis
  • Optic Atrophy, Hereditary, Leber* / genetics
  • Optic Atrophy, Hereditary, Leber* / pathology
  • Optic Nerve / pathology
  • Optic Nerve Diseases* / diagnosis
  • Optic Nerve Diseases* / etiology
  • Optic Neuritis* / diagnosis