Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in benign multiple sclerosis

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 1275-1281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex P Lange ◽  
Feng Zhu ◽  
Ana-Luiza Sayao ◽  
Reza Sadjadi ◽  
Samir Alkabie ◽  
...  

Background/objective:Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness has been linked to brain atrophy in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, little is known about retinal atrophy in ‘benign’ MS. We compared RNFL thickness in benign MS with healthy controls.Methods:Patients with benign MS (Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) ≤ 3; ≥15 years’ disease duration), identified through the British Columbia MS database, along with age-matched healthy controls, were recruited. RNFL thickness was measured using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare groups. The association between RNFL thickness and MS patient characteristics was examined via linear mixed-effects models (adjusting for within-patient inter-eye correlations and history of optic neuritis (ON), where appropriate).Results:Overall, 29 benign MS patients and 29 healthy controls were included, totaling 116 eyes. RNFL thickness was lowest for the benign MS eyes, with and then without a history of ON, followed by healthy controls (mean=73.2 µm, SD ± 0.4; 89.9 µm, SD ± 12.5; 96.7 µm, SD ± 10.4; p<0.02). RNFL thickness was associated with a history of ON ( p<0.0001), but not EDSS or disease duration ( p>0.1).Conclusions:RNFL thickness was lower in patients with benign MS than healthy controls, regardless of the previous history of ON. However, no association was found between RNFL values and disability or MS disease duration.

2008 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 906-912 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Toledo ◽  
J Sepulcre ◽  
A Salinas-Alaman ◽  
A García-Layana ◽  
M Murie-Fernandez ◽  
...  

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.


Author(s):  
Fiona Costello ◽  
William Hodge ◽  
Y. Irene Pan ◽  
Luanne Metz ◽  
Randy H. Kardon

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.


2008 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 609-614 ◽  
Author(s):  
V Pueyo ◽  
J Martin ◽  
J Fernandez ◽  
C Almarcegui ◽  
J Ara ◽  
...  

Objective To quantify axonal loss in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), with and without a history of optic neuritis, by means of ocular imaging technologies. Methods This cross-sectional study enrolled 50 patients with MS and 25 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. All patients underwent neurologic assessment and a complete ophthalmic examination that included visual acuity, visual field examination, optical coherence tomography (OCT), scanning laser polarimetry (GDx) and visual evoked potentials (VEPs). Visual parameters and RNFL measurements were evaluated in MS eyes with a prior optic neuritis episode (MS-ON), with no prior episode (MS-NON) and control subjects. Results There were significant differences ( p < 0.05, analysis of variance) between MS-ON ( n = 25 eyes) and healthy eyes ( n = 25 eyes) for all RNFL parameters measured by OCT and GDx. Significant differences between MS-NON ( n = 75 eyes) and healthy eyes were also found for most of these parameters. RNFL thickness in the temporal quadrant was the parameter with the greatest differences between groups (71.79 μm in healthy eyes, 60.29 μm in MS-NON and 53.92 μm in MS-ON, p < 0.0005). Although there was a highly significant but moderate correlation between RNFL thickness and duration of the disease, no correlation was observed between RNFL thickness and neurologic impairment (Expanded Disability Status Scale). Conclusions Axonal loss was detected not only in MS eyes with a previous acute optic neuritis, but also in MS eyes with no known optic neuritis episode. Structural abnormalities correlate with functional assessments of the optic nerve.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex P. Lange ◽  
Reza Sadjadi ◽  
Jameelah Saeedi ◽  
Janette Lindley ◽  
Fiona Costello ◽  
...  

Objective. The aim of this study was to compare retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) between spectral-domain (SD-) and time-domain optical coherence tomography (TD-OCT) in MS patients and healthy controls (HC). Furthermore, RNFLT between MS eyes with and without optic neuritis (ON) and HC should be explored. Finally, the relationship between RNFLT, disease duration, EDSS, and disease modifying therapy (DMT) should be established.Design. Prospective, cross-sectional study.Participants. 28 MS patients and 35 HC.Methods. Both groups underwent TD- and SD-OCT measurements. RFNLT was correlated between the two machines and between MS eyes with and without ON and HC. Furthermore, RNFLT was correlated to disease duration, EDSS and DMT.Results. A strong correlation (Pearson’sr=0.921,P<0.001), but a statistically significant difference of 2 μm (P<0.001), was found between the two devices. RNFLT was significantly different between MS eyes with history of ON (mean RFNLT (SD) 72.21 μm (15.83 μm)), MS eyes without history of ON 93.03 μm (14.25 μm), and HC 99.07 μm (7.23 μm) (P<0.001).Conclusions. The measurements between different generation of OCT machines are not interchangeable, which should be taken into account if comparing results between different machines and switching OCT machine in longitudinal studies.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdullah S. Al-Mujaini ◽  
Maiysa S. Al-Mujaini ◽  
Buthaina I. Sabt

Abstract Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that attacks the central nervous system, with optic neuritis (ON) being a common early manifestation. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness may be a biomarker of neuroaxonal damage in MS patients. We sought to evaluate changes in RNFL thickness over four years in Omani MS patients with or without ON in comparison to a healthy control group. Methods: This retrospective case-control study involved 27 MS patients and 25 healthy controls. Optical coherence tomography was performed upon first diagnosis and at a four-year follow-up. Differences in mean RNFL thickness were calculated. Results: A total of 51 eyes from the MS group and 50 eyes from the control group were evaluated. There was a significant reduction in mean RNFL thickness among MS patients with ON at follow-up (81.21 versus 72.14 µm; P = .003), whereas no significant RNFL thinning was observed among MS patients without ON. However, there was a significant reduction in RNFL thickness among MS patients compared to healthy controls (76.79 versus 93.72 µm; P = .009), regardless of ON presence/absence. Conclusions: Axonal damage was seen in the optic nerves of Omani MS patients. Moreover, there was a significant reduction in RNFL thickness among MS patients with ON as the disease progressed; however, while there was evidence of RNFL thinning in MS patients without ON, this difference lacked statistical significance. Evaluation of RNFL thickness may represent a useful biomarker for monitoring disease progression in MS and its association with ON.


Background: Smoking has multisystem effects on human body due to hypoxia and systemic inflammation, which it produces. This contributory effect is observed in ocular tissues as well. The aim of the study was to evaluate retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in healthy individuals with a history of smoking, using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods: Patients healthy eyes n=300 were examined. Two groups were made; Group A with history of smoking (n=50) and Group B with no history of smoking (n=250). Subjects with a history of diabetes, hypertension, raised intra ocular pressure (IOP >21 mmHg), any neurological disease or family history of glaucoma were excluded from the study. Independent t-test was used to assess the thickness variation with smoking status. ANOVA was used to analyze the differences in both groups. p value <0.05 was taken as significant. Results: The mean retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness was found to be 96.44 ± 9.32 μm in Group A eyes. It was found to be significantly increased (p=0.02) in Group B 99.54 ± 9.32 μm. The mean RNFL thickness 93.52 ± 8.60 μm in smokers with history of more than 10 years was found decreased compared to the thickness 98.66 ± 3.96 μm in those with history of smoking less than 10 years. Conclusion: Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) was found to be decreased in subjects with positive history of smoking. This difference signifies that smoking is associated with ocular pathologies. Future protocols may be included in screening for RNFL thickness in smokers for early detection and prevention of optical diseases. Keywords: Smoking; Retina; Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer (RNFL); Retinal Damage; Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT).


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdullah S. Al-Mujaini ◽  
Maiysa S. Al-Mujaini ◽  
Buthaina I. Sabt

Abstract Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that attacks the central nervous system, with optic neuritis (ON) being a common early manifestation. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness may be a biomarker of neuroaxonal damage in MS patients. We sought to evaluate changes in RNFL thickness over 4 years in Omani MS patients with or without ON in comparison to a healthy control group. Methods This retrospective case-control study involved 27 MS patients and 25 healthy controls. Optical coherence tomography was performed upon first diagnosis and at a four-year follow-up. Differences in mean RNFL thickness were calculated. Results A total of 51 eyes from the MS group and 50 eyes from the control group were evaluated. There was a significant reduction in mean RNFL thickness among MS patients with ON at follow-up (81.21 versus 72.14 μm; P = .003), whereas no significant RNFL thinning was observed among MS patients without ON. However, there was a significant reduction in RNFL thickness among MS patients compared to healthy controls (76.79 versus 93.72 μm; P = .009), regardless of ON presence/absence. Conclusions Axonal damage was seen in the optic nerves of Omani MS patients. Moreover, there was a significant reduction in RNFL thickness among MS patients with ON as the disease progressed; however, while there was evidence of RNFL thinning in MS patients without ON, this difference lacked statistical significance. Evaluation of RNFL thickness may represent a useful biomarker for monitoring disease progression in MS and its association with ON.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanhong Liu ◽  
Yongsheng Tong ◽  
Lvzhen Huang ◽  
Jingxu Chen ◽  
Shaoxiao Yan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background We analyzed the correlation of the clinical data with retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and macular thickness in bipolar disorder patients and major depression patients. The aim of this study is to explore factors that affect RNFL thickness in bipolar disorder patients and major depression patients, with a view to providing a new diagnostic strategy. Methods Eighty-two bipolar disorder patients, 35 major depression patients and 274 people who were age and gender matched with the patients were enrolled. Demographic information and metabolic profile of all participants were collected. Best-corrected visual acuity of each eye, intraocular pressure (IOP), fundus examination was performed. RNFL and macular thickness were measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Correlations between RNFL and macular thickness and other data were analyzed. Results RNFL and macula lutea in bipolar dipolar patients and major depression patients are thinner than normal people. Triglyceride and UA levels are the highest in the bipolar disorder group, while alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (AST) levels in the depression group are the highest. Age onset and ALT are positively while uric acid (UA) is negatively correlated with RNFL thickness in bipolar dipolar patients. Cholesterol level is positively correlated with RNFL thickness while the duration of illness is correlated with RNFL thickness of left eye in major depression patients. Conclusions RNFL and macula lutea in bipolar dipolar patients and major depression patients are thinner than normal people. In bipolar disorder patients, age-onset and ALT are potential protective factors in the progress of RNFL thinning, while UA is the pathological factor.


2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gul Nasreen ◽  
Shaheer Suhail Sarwar ◽  
Irfana Bibi ◽  
Muhammad Arslan Ashraf

Purpose:  To determine the difference between mean retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in myopic eyes (up to -6.00D) and normal eyes. Study Design:  Descriptive observational study. Place and Duration of the Study:  Eye department of Mayo hospital Lahore, from February 2019 to April 2019. Methods:  We compared the mean RNFL between 58 myopic eyes (up to -6.00 D) and age matched 60 normal eyes. The age of the participants was between 12 to 42 years. Complete ocular examination was done and RNFL thickness was measured by using Optical coherence tomography (NIDEX RS-33.0, software-ex 1.5.2).Data was analyzed by independent sample t-test by using SPSS; with P < .05 as significant. Results:  The mean difference among these groups was 5.852 µm with (SE: 1.929). Mean RNFL thickness in myopic group was (95.93 ± 10.158µm) with (SE: 1.334). The result for mean RNFL thickness in myopic eyes was distributed normally as P < .03. Mean RNFL in normal group was (101.78 ± 10.774 µm) with (SE: 1.391), and the result of mean RNFL thickness measured in normal eyes was not distributed normally as P < .20. The results showed that there is a statistically significant difference between mean RNFL thickness measured in normal versus myopic eyes as (P < .003). Conclusion:  There is a significance difference between mean RNFL thickness between myopic eyes and normal eyes as measured by OCT. Careful interpretation of RNFL data in myopic eyes is recommended to avoid misdiagnosis with glaucoma. Key Words:  Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer thickness, Myopia, Optical Coherence Tomography.


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