Impaired motion perception is associated with functional and structural visual pathway damage in multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders

Background: Decreased motion perception has been suggested as a marker for visual pathway demyelination in optic neuritis (ON) and/or multiple sclerosis (MS). Objectives: To examine the influence of neuro-axonal damage on motion perception in MS and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD). Methods: We analysed motion perception with numbers-from-motion (NFM), visual acuity, (multifocal (mf)) VEP, optical coherence tomography in patients with MS ( n = 38, confirmatory cohort n = 43), NMOSD ( n = 13) and healthy controls ( n = 33). Results: NFM was lower compared with controls in MS ( B = −12.37, p < 0.001) and NMOSD ( B = −34.5, p < 0.001). NFM was lower in ON than in non-ON eyes ( B = −30.95, p = 0.041) in NMOSD, but not MS. In MS and NMOSD, lower NFM was associated with worse visual acuity ( B = −139.4, p < 0.001/ B = −77.2, p < 0.001) and low contrast letter acuity ( B = 0.99, p = 0.002/ B = 1.6, p < 0.001), thinner peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer ( B = 1.0, p < 0.001/ B = 0.92, p = 0.016) and ganglion cell/inner plexiform layer ( B = 64.8, p < 0.001/ B = 79.5, p = 0.006), but not with VEP P100 latencies. In the confirmatory MS cohort, lower NFM was associated with thinner retinal nerve fibre layer ( B = 1.351, p < 0.001) and increased mfVEP P100 latencies ( B = −1.159, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Structural neuro-axonal visual pathway damage is an important driver of motion perception impairment in MS and NMOSD.

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Differences in clinical features between optic neuritis in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders and in multiple sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis Journal - Experimental Translational and Clinical ◽

10.1177/2055217318791196 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 205521731879119 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Jindapa Srikajon ◽

Sasitorn Siritho ◽

Chanon Ngamsombat ◽

Naraporn Prayoonwiwat ◽

Niphon Chirapapaisan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Visual Acuity ◽

Optic Neuritis ◽

Neuromyelitis Optica ◽

Retrospective Chart Review ◽

Visual Outcome ◽

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders ◽

Fiber Layer ◽

Spectrum Disorders

Background Optic neuritis (ON) is one of the common manifestations both in neuromyelitis-optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) and in multiple sclerosis (MS). Objectives The objective of this paper is to compare clinical presentations, laboratories and imaging findings in ON associated with MS and NMOSD. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed in patients presenting with ON in 59 NMOSD patients with 72 eyes’ involvement and 163 ON attacks, and 20 MS patients with 23 eyes’ involvement and 36 ON attacks. Results ON-NMOSD patients had recurrent ON more often and tended to have simultaneous bilateral ON involvement at their first ON attack. Individuals with ON-NMOSD revealed worse visual acuity at first ON attacks and also had poorer long-term visual outcome than those with ON-MS, with nearly half of ON-NMOSD patients still having LogMAR visual acuity ≥1 at their last follow-up ( p = 0.035). Significant thinner average retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was found in the ON-NMOSD group. We found no significant differences in segmentation location of the optic nerve lesions and the length of involvement between the two groups. Conclusions It was difficult to completely differentiate ON-NMOSD from ON-MS. ON-NMOSD patients, however, tended to have simultaneous bilateral ON involvement and poorer long-term visual outcome than individuals with ON-MS.

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