Table 1. Baseline Characteristics of Enrolled Patients.
| Characteristic | Overall, No. (%)a |
|---|---|
| No. | 44 (100) |
| Participant sex | |
| Male | 26 (59) |
| Female | 18 (41) |
| Age, y | |
| 3-6 | 10 (23) |
| 7-9 | 8 (18) |
| 10-12 | 16 (36) |
| ≥13 | 10 (23) |
| Mean (SD) | 10.2 (3.5) |
| Race/ethnicity (self-reported) | |
| White | 23 (52) |
| Black/African American | 6 (14) |
| Hispanic | 10 (23) |
| Asian | 4 (9) |
| Unknown/not reported | 1 (2) |
| Prepuberty status by Tanner questionnaire | |
| Yesb | 9 (20) |
| No | 28 (64) |
| Not done/unknown | 7 (16) |
| Systemic symptoms reported, yes | 23 (52) |
| Type of symptoms reported | |
| Headache | 19 (43) |
| Focal weakness | 7 (16) |
| Focal numbness | 2 (5) |
| Difficulty with coordination | 6 (14) |
| Loss of bowel or bladder control | 1 (2) |
| Nausea | 6 (14) |
| Vomiting | 5 (11) |
| Tinnitus | 3 (7) |
| Diplopia | 2 (5) |
| Neck stiffness/pain | 5 (11) |
| Altered mental status | 1 (2) |
| Medications at enrollment, yes | 14 (32) |
| Type of mediations reported | |
| ADHD medications | 2 (5) |
| Seizure medications | 2 (5) |
| Analgesics | 7 (16) |
| Otherc | 8 (18) |
| Family history of medical conditions (listed below), yes | 16 (36) |
| Type of medical conditions | |
| Optic neuritis | 3 (7) |
| Autoimmune conditions | 10 (23) |
| Cardiovascular disease | 7 (16) |
| Laterality at PON presentation | |
| Bilaterald | 16 (36) |
| Bilateral sequential | 1 (2) |
| Bilateral simultaneous | 15 (34) |
| Unilateral | 28 (64) |
| Corticosteroid treatment at time of enrollmente | |
| No | 4 (9) |
| Yes | 40 (91) |
| History of demyelination | |
| None | 37 (86) |
| Optic neuritis | 1 (2) |
| Multiple sclerosis | 1 (2) |
| ADEM | 3 (7) |
| Transverse myelitis | 1 (2) |
| Not reported, No. | 1 |
| AQP4 test resultf | |
| Negative | 14 (93) |
| Positive | 1 (7) |
| Not done/unknown, No. | 29 |
| MOG test resultf | |
| Negative | 6 (46) |
| Positive | 7 (54) |
| Not done/unknown, No. | 31 |
| Brain lesion(s) on MRIg | |
| Site assessment | |
| No | 21 (48) |
| Yes | 23 (52) |
| Independent masked assessment | |
| No | 20 (47) |
| Yes | 23 (52) |
| Unknown/unable to determine, No. | 1 |
Abbreviations: ADEM, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis; ADHD, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; AQP4, aquaporin 4; MOG, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; PON, pediatric optic neuritis.
Values are expressed as No. (%) unless otherwise specified.
Prepuberty defined as Tanner questionnaire level 1 response = scrotum and penis size are the same as when young (if boy) or breasts are flat (if girl).
The type and number of participants with other medications at time of enrollment included the following: amphetamine/dextroamphetamine, mometasone, montelukast (n = 3), albuterol, cyproheptadine, melatonin (n = 2), ranitidine, loratadine, famotidine, pantoprazole, acetazolamide, cetirizine (n = 2), fluticasone, doxycycline, and idebenone.
Of those with bilateral optic neuritis at presentation, laterality was defined as simultaneous bilateral if both eyes developed an initial episode of acute optic neuritis within 1 month of each other; otherwise, participants were classified as having sequential bilateral optic neuritis.
Patients were classified as having corticosteroid treatment (oral or intravenous) at enrollment if corticosteroid use was either current or reported before enrollment or if corticosteroid treatment was prescribed at enrollment.
Results are based on analyses of blood samples collected from participants (or their parents) who consented to optional additional testing for AQP4 (n = 15) and MOG (n = 13) antibodies.
Based on MRI scan performed at enrollment (or within 2 weeks after enrollment).