Photophobia in multiple sclerosis

Antonio Cortese; Antonella Conte; Gina Ferrazzano; Eleonora Sgarlata; Enrico Millefiorini; Marco Frontoni; Alfredo Berardelli

doi:10.1016/j.msard.2018.09.005

Photophobia in multiple sclerosis

Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2018 Nov:26:55-57. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2018.09.005. Epub 2018 Sep 8.

Authors

Antonio Cortese¹, Antonella Conte², Gina Ferrazzano³, Eleonora Sgarlata⁴, Enrico Millefiorini⁴, Marco Frontoni⁴, Alfredo Berardelli²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, v.le dell'Università 30, 00185 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: antonio.cortese@uniroma1.it.
² Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, v.le dell'Università 30, 00185 Rome, Italy; IRCCS Neuromed, via Atinense 18, 86077 Pozzilli, IS, Italy.
³ IRCCS Neuromed, via Atinense 18, 86077 Pozzilli, IS, Italy.
⁴ Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, v.le dell'Università 30, 00185 Rome, Italy.

PMID: 30223230
DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2018.09.005

Abstract

Background: Photophobia has never been investigated in MS.

Methods: In this pilot study we used photosensitivity questionnaire assessment (PAQ) to evaluate tolerability to light in 73 MS patients and 62 healthy controls.

Results: We identified a lower PAQ score and a higher number of photophobic subjects in MS than in controls. Moreover, clinical disability or previous optic neuritis did not predict the photosensitivity profile.

Conclusion: Further studies to investigate the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying photophobia in MS are needed.

Keywords: Multiple Sclerosis; Optic neuritis; Photophobia; Photosensitivity; Photosensitivity questionnaire; Trigeminal nucleus.

MeSH terms

Adult
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Multiple Sclerosis / complications*
Optic Neuritis / complications*
Photophobia / diagnosis*
Photophobia / etiology*
Pilot Projects
Severity of Illness Index*