MS is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. Disability and prognosis in MS appears to be to some extent age-dependent (Trojano et al 2002, Confavreux & Vukusic 2006). Autonomic dysfunctions are frequently reported in MS; among these pupillary impairment is not uncommon. Our aim was to investigate the pupillary function in MS patients. Healthy subjects served as controls.

The pupillary function was assessed in 95 patients with mild-moderate MS (44 ± 7) and in 83 (49 ± 6) healthy subjects. The parasympathetic pupillary function was measured as initial diameter (mm), time to min diameter (s), reflex amplitude (mm), relative reflex amplitude (%) and maximal constriction velocity (mm/s). To reflect the sympathetic pupillary function the maximal redilatation velocity (mm/s) and time of 75% of redilatation (s) were measured.

In MS patients, the initial diameter (p < 0.01), reflex amplitude (p < 0.01) and time of 75% redilatation (p < 0.05) decreased with increasing age, but no age related decreases were observed in controls. However, of MS patients' pupillary values 84-100% were within the reference values of healthy controls. In age adjusted analysis the initial diameter (p < 0.05), maximum redilatation velocity (p < 0.05) and time of 75% redilatation (p < 0.001) differed significantly from controls.

In MS patients the pupillary function was not severely affected by the disease, although some impairment was observed in MS patients especially in sympathetic function, compared with controls. The effect of age was observed in MS patients.

RERFERENCES

Confavreux C. & Vukusic S. 2006. Brain 129, 595-605.

Trojano et al. 2002 Ann Neurol; 51, 475-80.