Is it necessary to perform connective tissue disorders laboratory tests when a patient experiences the first demyelinating attack?

Background: it may be difficult to differentiate between the first demyelinating attack and the neurological manifestations of connective tissue diseases. materials and methods: a total of 79 patients with optic neuritis were compared with 79 healthy controls. their blood samples were tested for erythrocyte sedimentation rate (esr), c‑reactive protein (crp), antiβ2‑glycoprotein i antibody (igg, igm), anticardiolipin antibody (igm, igg), lupus anticoagulant, anti‑double strand dna (anri‑ds dna), antinuclear antibody (ana), anti‑myeloperoxidae (p‑anca), and anti‑proteinase 3 (c‑anca). results: in clinically isolated syndrome group β2‑glycoprotein (igm) and lupus anti‑coagulant were positive in 1.3% of patients whereas ana was positive in 1.3% and anti‑β2‑glycoprotein i (igm) was positive in 2.5% of control group. no rheumatologic disease was found in objects with positive tests. conclusion: this study shows no specific difference between two groups.