OBJECTIVE: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) noninvasively quantifies retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness. Studies show RNFL thinning in multiple sclerosis (MS), and we assessed its association with brain atrophy. METHODS: RNFL thickness was measured in 40 patients with MS and 15 controls. Brain parenchymal fraction (BPF) and partial brain volumes were estimated from cranial MRI scans using SIENA-X. Multiple linear regression modeling assessed the association between OCT and MRI measures of atrophy. RESULTS: Minimum RNFL thickness and subject age together predict 21% (p = 0.005) of the variance in BPF in all patients with MS and 43% (p = 0.003) of the variance in BPF in the subgroup with relapsing remitting MS (RRMS; n = 20). The partial correlation coefficient between BPF and minimum RNFL thickness, controlling for age, is 0.46 (p = 0.003) in all patients with MS and 0.69 (p = 0.001) in patients with RRMS. These associations are driven by CSF volume but not by gray or white matter volume. There is no significant association of these variables among controls. CONCLUSIONS: In multiple sclerosis (MS), retinal nerve fiber layer thickness is associated with brain parenchymal fraction and CSF volume. These data suggest that quantification of axonal thickness in the retina by optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides concurrent information about MRI brain abnormality in MS. OCT should be examined in longitudinal studies to determine if it could be used as an outcome measure in clinical trials of neuroprotective drugs.
OBJECTIVE: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) noninvasively quantifies retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness. Studies show RNFL thinning in multiple sclerosis (MS), and we assessed its association with brain atrophy. METHODS: RNFL thickness was measured in 40 patients with MS and 15 controls. Brain parenchymal fraction (BPF) and partial brain volumes were estimated from cranial MRI scans using SIENA-X. Multiple linear regression modeling assessed the association between OCT and MRI measures of atrophy. RESULTS: Minimum RNFL thickness and subject age together predict 21% (p = 0.005) of the variance in BPF in all patients with MS and 43% (p = 0.003) of the variance in BPF in the subgroup with relapsing remitting MS (RRMS; n = 20). The partial correlation coefficient between BPF and minimum RNFL thickness, controlling for age, is 0.46 (p = 0.003) in all patients with MS and 0.69 (p = 0.001) in patients with RRMS. These associations are driven by CSF volume but not by gray or white matter volume. There is no significant association of these variables among controls. CONCLUSIONS: In multiple sclerosis (MS), retinal nerve fiber layer thickness is associated with brain parenchymal fraction and CSF volume. These data suggest that quantification of axonal thickness in the retina by optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides concurrent information about MRI brain abnormality in MS. OCT should be examined in longitudinal studies to determine if it could be used as an outcome measure in clinical trials of neuroprotective drugs.
Authors: Michaela A Seigo; Elias S Sotirchos; Scott Newsome; Aleksandra Babiarz; Christopher Eckstein; E'tona Ford; Jonathan D Oakley; Stephanie B Syc; Teresa C Frohman; John N Ratchford; Laura J Balcer; Elliot M Frohman; Peter A Calabresi; Shiv Saidha Journal: J Neurol Date: 2012-03-15 Impact factor: 4.849
Authors: G Cennamo; M R Romano; E C Vecchio; C Minervino; C Della Guardia; N Velotti; A Carotenuto; S Montella; G Orefice; G Cennamo Journal: Eye (Lond) Date: 2015-12-18 Impact factor: 3.775
Authors: Amy T Waldman; Girish Hiremath; Robert A Avery; Amy Conger; Stacy L Pineles; Michael J Loguidice; Lauren S Talman; Kristin M Galetta; Michael J Shumski; James Wilson; E'tona Ford; Amy M Lavery; Darrel Conger; Benjamin M Greenberg; Jonas H Ellenberg; Elliot M Frohman; Laura J Balcer; Peter A Calabresi Journal: Mult Scler Relat Disord Date: 2013-05-01 Impact factor: 4.339
Authors: Adam L Rothman; Monica B Sevilla; Shwetha Mangalesh; Kathryn E Gustafson; Laura Edwards; C Michael Cotten; Joshua S Shimony; Carolyn E Pizoli; Mays A El-Dairi; Sharon F Freedman; Cynthia A Toth Journal: Am J Ophthalmol Date: 2015-09-18 Impact factor: 5.258