Progressive Changes in the Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) levels and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) are both emerging biomarkers of neuro-axonal damage in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, data on the relation between sNfL and pRNFL are scarce. Objective: We aimed to determine the relation of sNfL levels with pRNFL thinning in a large cohort of relapsing–remitting (RR) MS patients. Methods: We identified 80 patients from a prospective, 3-year observational study on retinal changes in RRMS with annual blood samples available. sNfL levels were measured using single-molecule array (SimoaTM) assay. Annualized loss of pRNFL (aLpRNFL) was determined by individual linear regression models. Correlations between single and repeated sNfL levels and aLpRNFL were analyzed using multivariate linear regression and mixed-effect models. Results: After correction for sex, age, and baseline sNfL, an sNfL increase of 10 pg/mL was associated with an aLpRNFL of −0.7 µm (95% confidence interval (CI): (−1.3, −0.2), p < 0.001). Patients with ⩾2 sNfL measurements >75th percentile displayed higher aLpRNFL (2.2 µm, standard deviation (SD) 0.6) compared to patients with no sNfL measure >75th percentile (0.4 µm, SD 0.2, p < 0.001). Between 15% and 20% of the aLpRNFL variance could be predicted from sNfL levels. Conclusion: sNfL levels contribute to the prediction of retinal thinning in patients with RRMS, strengthening its value as a biomarker of neuro-axonal damage.

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Retinal nerve fiber layer atrophy is associated with physical and cognitive disability in multiple sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1177/1352458508090221 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 14 (7) ◽

pp. 906-912 ◽

Cited By ~ 98

Author(s):

J Toledo ◽

J Sepulcre ◽

A Salinas-Alaman ◽

A García-Layana ◽

M Murie-Fernandez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Nerve Fiber ◽

Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer ◽

Thickness Measurement ◽

Cognitive Disability ◽

Fiber Layer ◽

Nerve Fiber Layer ◽

Rnfl Thickness ◽

Tissue Changes ◽

Retinal Nerve Fiber

Background Studying axonal loss in the retina is a promising biomarker for multiple sclerosis (MS). Our aim was to compare optical coherence tomography (OCT) and Heidelberg retinal tomography (HRT) techniques to measure the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in patients with MS, and to explore the relationship between changes in the RNFL thickness with physical and cognitive disability. We studied 52 patients with MS and 18 proportionally matched controls by performing neurological examination, neuropsychological evaluation using the Brief Repetitive Battery-Neuropsychology and RNFL thickness measurement using OCT and HRT. Results We found that both OCT and HRT could define a reduction in the thickness of the RNFL in patients with MS compared with controls, although both measurements were weakly correlated, suggesting that they might measure different aspects of the tissue changes in MS. The degree of RNFL atrophy was correlated with cognitive disability, mainly with the symbol digit modality test ( r = 0.754, P < 0.001). Moreover, temporal quadrant RNFL atrophy measured with OCT was associated with physical disability. Conclusion In summary, both OCT and HRT are able to detect thinning of the RNFL, but OCT seems to be the most sensitive technique to identify changes associated with MS evolution.

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Retinal nerve fiber layer atrophy in patients with multiple sclerosis: Longitudinal 5 years study

Acta Ophthalmologica ◽

10.1111/j.1755-3768.2016.0303 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 94 ◽

Author(s):

E. Garcia Martin ◽

M. Satue ◽

M.J. Rodrigo ◽

J. Obis ◽

M. Cipres Alastuey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Nerve Fiber ◽

Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer ◽

Fiber Layer ◽

Nerve Fiber Layer ◽

Retinal Nerve Fiber

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A mathematical model to predict the evolution of retinal nerve fiber layer thinning in multiple sclerosis patients

Computers in Biology and Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.compbiomed.2019.103357 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 111 ◽

pp. 103357 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Alberto Montolío ◽

José Cegoñino ◽

Elvira Orduna ◽

Berta Sebastian ◽

Elena Garcia-Martin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Mathematical Model ◽

Nerve Fiber ◽

Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer ◽

Fiber Layer ◽

Nerve Fiber Layer ◽

Multiple Sclerosis Patients ◽

Retinal Nerve Fiber

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Reduced Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness and Macular Volume in Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis

Journal of Child Neurology ◽

10.1177/0883073812447683 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 27 (12) ◽

pp. 1517-1523 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Ünsal Yılmaz ◽

Kıvılcım Gücüyener ◽

Döndü Melek Erin ◽

Zeliha Yazar ◽

Esra Gürkaş ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Nerve Fiber ◽

Layer Thickness ◽

Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer ◽

Fiber Layer ◽

Nerve Fiber Layer ◽

Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Macular Volume ◽

Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness ◽

Retinal Nerve Fiber

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Three-Dimensional Geometries Representing the Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer in Multiple Sclerosis, Optic Neuritis, and Healthy Eyes

Ophthalmic Research ◽

10.1159/000350413 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 50 (1) ◽

pp. 72-81 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Elena Garcia-Martin ◽

Begoña Calvo ◽

Mauro Malvè ◽

Raquel Herrero ◽

Isabel Fuertes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Optic Neuritis ◽

Nerve Fiber ◽

Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Fiber Layer ◽

Nerve Fiber Layer ◽

Healthy Eyes ◽

Retinal Nerve Fiber

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Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and thalamus pathology in multiple sclerosis patients

European Journal of Neurology ◽

10.1111/ene.12449 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 21 (8) ◽

pp. 1137-e61 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

R. Zivadinov ◽

N. Bergsland ◽

R. Cappellani ◽

J. Hagemeier ◽

R. Melia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Nerve Fiber ◽

Layer Thickness ◽

Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer ◽

Fiber Layer ◽

Nerve Fiber Layer ◽

Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness ◽

Multiple Sclerosis Patients ◽

Retinal Nerve Fiber

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Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer and Future Risk of Multiple Sclerosis

Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences / Journal Canadien des Sciences Neurologiques ◽

10.1017/s031716710000915x ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 35 (4) ◽

pp. 482-487 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Fiona Costello ◽

William Hodge ◽

Y. Irene Pan ◽

Luanne Metz ◽

Randy H. Kardon

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Nerve Fiber ◽

Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer ◽

Fiber Layer ◽

Nerve Fiber Layer ◽

Rnfl Thickness ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Conversion Time ◽

One Year ◽

Retinal Nerve Fiber

Background:Optical coherence tomography (OCT) - measured retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) values may represent a surrogate biomarker for axonal integrity in multiple sclerosis (MS). The purpose of this study was to determine whether RNFL measurements obtained within two years of an optic neuritis (ON) event distinguish patients at increased risk of developing clinically-definite MS (CDMS).Methods:Fifty consecutively sampled patients who experienced a single ON event were followed prospectively for a mean period of 34 months with OCT testing. Values of RNFL in clinically-affected and non-affected eyes were compared between patients who developed CDMS and those that did not develop MS after ON.Findings:Twenty-one patients (42%) developed CDMS during the course of the study, with a mean conversion time of 27 months. Mean RNFL values were thinner in the clinically - affected eyes of non - MS patients than CDMS eyes after one year (p = 0.0462) due to more severe ON events in the former. By year two, CDMS patients manifested more recurrent ON events and RNFL thinning than non - MS patients. Temporal RNFL values were thinner in the non-affected eyes of CDMS patients with a trend towards significance (p = 0.1302).Interpretation:Our results indicate that RNFL thickness does not reliably distinguish patients at higher risk of converting to CDMS after ON. The severity of ON has a greater effect on RNFL thickness than risk of CDMS at one year. The CDMS patients demonstrate progressive RNFL thinning likely due to recurrent sub-clinical ON events, which may help differentiate them from non - MS patients over time.

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