Abstract
Background: Neurodegeneration plays an important role in permanent disability in multiple sclerosis (MS). Objective: The objective of this paper is to determine whether progressive neurodegeneration occurs in MS eyes without clinically evident inflammation. Methods: Retinal nerve fiver layer thickness (RNFLT) and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness (GCIPT) were measured using Cirrus optical coherence tomography (OCT) in 133 relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients (149 nonoptic neuritis (ON), 97 ON eyes, last ON ?6 months). Ninety-three patients were scanned at two visits. Percentages of abnormal GCIPT vs RNFLT (<5% of machine norms) in cross-sectional data were compared. Relations between RNFLT/ GCIPT and MS duration (cross-sectional) and follow-up time (longitudinal) were assessed. Results: GCIPT was abnormal in more eyes than RNFLT (27% vs 16% p = 0.004 in non-ON, 82% vs 72% p = 0.007 in ON). RNFLT and GCIPT decreased with MS duration by ?0.49 ?m/yr (p = 0.0001) and ?0.36 (p = 0.005) for non-ON; ?0.52 (p = 0.003) and ?0.41 (p = 0.007) for ON. RNFLT and GCIPT decreased with follow-up time by ?1.49 ?m/yr (p < 0.0001) and ?0.53 (p = 0.004) for non-ON, ?1.27 (p = 0.002) and ?0.49 (p = 0.04) for ON. Conclusions: In RRMS eyes without clinically evident inflammation, progressive loss of RNFLT and GCIPT occurred, supporting the need for neuroprotection in addition to suppression of autoimmune responses and inflammation.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1331-1341 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Multiple Sclerosis |
Volume | 20 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 2014 |
Keywords
- Ganglion cell inner plexiform layer
- Multiple sclerosis
- Neurodegeneration
- Optic neuritis
- Optical coherence tomography
- Retinal nerve fiber layer
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neurology
- Clinical Neurology