Abstract
Purpose :
Rare reports of neuro-ophthalmic manifestations such as optic neuritis have been associated with both coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) infection and COVID-19 vaccination. We present a retrospective case study evaluating an association between pediatric optic neuritis with COVID-19 infection or post COVID-19 vaccination.
Methods :
This case study included patients aged 21 or younger, who were diagnosed with optic neuritis between 2020 and 2022 at University Hospital System in San Antonio and followed up with the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA) Ophthalmology Department. The diagnosis of optic neuritis was made based on examination findings and magnetic resonance imaging. Retrospective review of patients COVID-19 vaccination status and COVID test results was completed. Antibody testing such as myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) and aquaporin-4 was also reviewed. The UTHSCSA Institutional Review Board deemed use of this anonymized database to be exempt. Paired Sample t-test was used for statistical analysis.
Results :
There was a total of 8 participants who met inclusion criteria. There were 2 males and 6 females. The average age at the time of presentation and diagnosis was 14.9 years old. Of 8 participants, 1 patient had received the COVID-19 vaccine less than 8 weeks prior to presentation (P value = 3.12). 2 patients presented within four weeks after COVID infection (P value = 0.0002). 3 patients tested positive for anti-MOG antibodies, however, none of these patients had presented post-viral infection or post-vaccination.
Conclusions :
Although this is a small case study, there are no studies to our knowledge looking at the association between pediatric optic neuritis and COVID-19 infection and vaccination. It would be interesting to see how these patients do long term in the future. It remains unclear if post-viral infection or vaccine is related to autoimmunity; never the less, it is important to note in history taking any recent infections or vaccinations.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.