Felix Schmidt1, Hanna Zimmermann2, Janine Mikolajczak2, Frederike C Oertel2, Florence Pache3, Maria Weinhold2, Johann Schinzel2, Judith Bellmann-Strobl4, Klemens Ruprecht3, Friedemann Paul4, Alexander U Brandt5. 1. NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Clinical and Experimental Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Department of Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. 2. NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. 3. Clinical and Experimental Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Department of Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. 4. NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine and Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. 5. NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: alexander.brandt@charite.de.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are characterized by devastating optic neuritis attacks causing more structural damage and visual impairment than in multiple sclerosis (MS). The objective of this study was to compare vision-related quality of life in NMOSD and MS patients and correlate it to structural retinal damage and visual function. METHODS: Thirty-one NMOSD and 31 matched MS patients were included. Vision-related quality of life was assessed with the 39-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ). All patients underwent retinal optical coherence tomography and visual acuity and contrast sensitivity measurements. RESULTS: Vision-related quality of life was reduced in NMOSD compared to MS patients. This difference was driven by a higher incidence of bilateral and more severe optic neuritis in the NMOSD group. Retinal thinning and visual impairment were significantly greater in the NMOSD cohort. Lower vision-related quality of life was associated with more retinal damage and reduced visual function as assessed by visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. CONCLUSION: NMOSD-related bilateral ON-attacks cause severe structural damage and visual impairment that lead to severe loss of vision-related quality of life. The NEI-VFQ is a helpful tool to monitor vision-related quality of life in NMOSD patients.
BACKGROUND:Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are characterized by devastating optic neuritis attacks causing more structural damage and visual impairment than in multiple sclerosis (MS). The objective of this study was to compare vision-related quality of life in NMOSD and MSpatients and correlate it to structural retinal damage and visual function. METHODS: Thirty-one NMOSD and 31 matched MSpatients were included. Vision-related quality of life was assessed with the 39-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ). All patients underwent retinal optical coherence tomography and visual acuity and contrast sensitivity measurements. RESULTS: Vision-related quality of life was reduced in NMOSD compared to MSpatients. This difference was driven by a higher incidence of bilateral and more severe optic neuritis in the NMOSD group. Retinal thinning and visual impairment were significantly greater in the NMOSD cohort. Lower vision-related quality of life was associated with more retinal damage and reduced visual function as assessed by visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. CONCLUSION: NMOSD-related bilateral ON-attacks cause severe structural damage and visual impairment that lead to severe loss of vision-related quality of life. The NEI-VFQ is a helpful tool to monitor vision-related quality of life in NMOSD patients.
Authors: Alexander U Brandt; Hanna G Zimmermann; Timm Oberwahrenbrock; Justine Isensee; Thomas Müller; Friedemann Paul Journal: J Neural Transm (Vienna) Date: 2017-11-15 Impact factor: 3.575
Authors: Stefan M Gold; Anne Willing; Frank Leypoldt; Friedemann Paul; Manuel A Friese Journal: Semin Immunopathol Date: 2018-10-25 Impact factor: 9.623