Abstract
The condition called “lactation optic neuritis” has been previously considered a clinical entity of its own. Four women, who developed optic neuritis within 1–12 months while breast-feeding their infants, were investigated ophthalmologically and neurologically in order, to find specific clinical features for this condition. The course of the disorder was similar to classic optic neuritis without lactation. The clinical history and laboratory findings in three of the four patients suggested a demyelinating disorder. It is possible that the decreased immunosuppressive activity just after pregnancy induces the manifestation of an underlying demyelinating disease. The existence of “lactation optic neuritis,” however, is questioned as a separate entity of its own. Lactation together with decreased immunosuppression may merely act as a provocateur in the onset of optic neuritis, which in many cases is the first clinical manifestation of incipient multiple sclerosis.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Delacroix D, Vaerman JP (1981) Reassessment of levels of secretory IgA in pathological sera using a quantitative radioimmunoassay. Clin Exp Immunol 43: 633–640
Brun del Re R, Del Pozo E, De Grandi P, Friesen H, Hinselmann M, Wyss H (1973) Prolactin inhibition and suppression of puerperal lactation by a Br-ergokryptine (CB 154). Obstet Gynecol 41: 884–890
Feinsod M, Hoyt WF (1975) Subclinical optic neuropathy in multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiat 38: 1109–1114
Glees M (1939) Beobachtung über die sogenannte Laktationsneuritis. Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd 103: 615
Halliday AM, McDonald WI, Mushin J (1972) Delayed visual evoked potential in optic neuritis. Lancet I: 982–985
Hirahara F, Gorai I, Tanaka K, Matsuzaki Y, Sumiyoshi Y, Shiojima Y (1980) Cellular immunity in pregnancy: subpopulations of T lymphocytes bearing Fc receptors for IgG and IgM in pregnant women. Clin Exp Immunol 41: 353–357
Hockaday JM, Peet KMS, Hockaday TDR (1976) Bromocriptine in migraine. Headache 16: 109–114
Iivanainen MV (1981) The significance of abnormal immune responses in patients with multiple sclerosis. J Neuroimmunol 1: 141–172
Kepes J, Remenár L (1958) Disseminated encephalitis beginning with symptoms of lactation neuritis of the optic nerve. Confin Neurol 18: 12–20
Levine R, Winch GA, Boyden BS (1976) Lactation optic neuritis. Acta XXIIe concilium ophthalmologicum Paris 1974, vol 2. Masson, Paris, pp 987–988
McAlpine D, Compston N (1952) Some aspects of the natural history of disseminated sclerosis. J Med 21: 135–167
McDonald WI, Halliday AM (1977) Diagnosis and classification of multiple sclerosis. Br Med Bull 33: 4–9
Nader S, Tulloch B, Blair C, Vydelingum N, Fraser TR (1974) Is prolactin involved in precipitating migraine? Lancet II: 17–19
Nikoskelainen E, Riekkinen P (1974) Optic neuritis — a sign of multiple sclerosis or other diseases of the central nervous system. Acta Neurol Scand 50: 690–718
Sautter H (1940) Über die Neuritis nervi optici während der Laktation. MMW 87: 937–939
Seppäläinen AM, Raitta C, Huuskonen MS (1979) N-hexane-induced changes in visual evoked potentials and electroretinograms of industrial workers. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 47: 492–498
Takeuchi A, Persellin RH (1980) The inhibitory effect of pregnancy serum on polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis. J Clin Lab Immunol 3: 121–124
Taskinen E (1983) Cerebrospinal fluid cells and proteins in neurological diseases with known or suspected immunoactivation of the central nervous system. Thesis, University of Helsinki, Helsinki
Walsh FB, Hoyt WF (1969) Clinical neuro-ophthalmology, Vol 1, 3rd edn. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, p 626
Weinstein D, Ben-David M, Polishuk WZ (1976) Serum prolactin and the suppression of lactation. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 83: 679–682
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Erkkilä, H., Raitta, C., Iivanainen, M. et al. Optic neuritis during lactation. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 222, 134–138 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02173537
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02173537