[The significance of enlarged retinal veins in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis: report of a patient (author's transl)].

Multiple sclerosis is a disease of polymorphic presentation and multiple and varied clinical symptoms must be looked for in order to establish a diagnosis, although a definite diagnosis can only be established through post mortem examination. In the early stages, ocular lesions are among the most frequent presenting symptoms and enlarged retinal veins as well as their association with ocular signs such as nystagmus and optic neuritis are characteristic of multiple sclerosis and an important diagnostic sign. In spite of being infrequent, enlarged retinal veins must be looked for when a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis is suspected, with its presentation usually being bilateral, peripherical and with a white band surrounding the retinal veins.