[Retinal periphlebitis and multiple sclerosis. Incidence, cerebrospinal fluid and results of visual evoked potentials].

In a retrospective study 323 patients with multiple sclerosis were screened for the incidence of retinal periphlebitis. The results of lumbar puncture and the visual evoked potentials were related to the eye disease. Retinal periphlebitis was seen in 19 patients (5.9%). Of the patients with retinal periphlebitis, 79% developed the eye pathology within the first 10 years of multiple sclerosis. The cerebrospinal fluid and visual evoked potentials were no different than the results in a control group of multiple sclerosis patients without periphlebitis. Multiple sclerosis should always be considered as one of the potential underlying diseases in retinal periphlebitis since it is found in 30% before or at the same time as the first neurological symptoms of multiple sclerosis.