Benign Multiple Sclerosis is Associated with Reduced Thinning of the Retinal Nerve Fiber and Ganglion Cell Layers in Non-Optic-Neuritis Eyes

Purpose. To describe different clinical characteristics and prognosis of optic neuritis (ON) in male patients with seropositive aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4-Ab) or myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody (MOG-Ab) in China. Method. Males with ON were recruited from the Neuro-ophthalmology Department of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, General Hospital from January 2016 to February 2018. They were assigned to two groups based on antibodies status: MOG-Ab-seropositive ON (MOG-ON) and aquaporin-4 Ab-seropositive ON (AQP4-ON). Results. Seventy-six male patients were assessed, including 44 MOG-ON (57.9%) and 32 AQP4-ON (42.1%). The MOG-ON patients were significantly younger at onset compared to the AQP4-ON group (p<0.001). Frequencies of optic disc swelling, presence of abnormal autoimmune antibodies, and elevated levels of CSF IgG were significantly higher in the AQP4-ON group than the MOG-ON group (p=0.040, p=0.016, and p=0.10, respectively). At the final visit, 85.3% of MOG-ON eyes had increased visual acuity (≥0.5) compared to 35.1% of AQP4-ON eyes (p<0.001). The ratio of this steroid-dependent condition is higher in MOG-ON patients than the AQP4-ON group (p<0.001). The ratio of conversion to NMO is higher in the AQP4-ON group than the MOG-ON group, with more AQP4-ON patients developing NMO by the follow-up (p=0.012). MOG-ON patients had thicker average peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layers and macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform than AQP4-ON patients (p=0.008 and p=0.012, respectively). Orbital MRI revealed more AQP4-ON patients had chiasmal involvement than MOG-ON patients (p<0.001). Conclusion. Male MOG-ON patients had different clinical features including earlier age of onset, higher optic disc swelling ratio, better visual acuity recovery, thicker peripapillary retinal nerve fiber and macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layers, and less chiasmal involvement than male AQP4-ON patients. Serum antibody may be a potential biomarker for determining visual prognosis in male ON.

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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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Axonal loss in the retinal nerve fiber layer in patients with multiple sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1177/1352458507087326 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 14 (5) ◽

pp. 609-614 ◽

Cited By ~ 88

Author(s):

V Pueyo ◽

J Martin ◽

J Fernandez ◽

C Almarcegui ◽

J Ara ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Optic Neuritis ◽

Nerve Fiber ◽

Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer ◽

Axonal Loss ◽

Fiber Layer ◽

Nerve Fiber Layer ◽

Rnfl Thickness ◽

Healthy Eyes ◽

Retinal Nerve Fiber

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.

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