R Lanzillo1, G Cennamo2, M Moccia1,3, C Criscuolo1, A Carotenuto1, N Frattaruolo1, F Sparnelli4, A Melenzane4, A Lamberti1, G Servillo4, F Tranfa4, G De Crecchio4, V Brescia Morra1. 1. Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Care and Research Centre, Federico II University, Naples. 2. Department of Public Health, Federico II University, Naples, Italy. 3. NMR Research Unit, Department of Neuroinflammation, Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK. 4. Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Vascular pathology is increasingly acknowledged as a risk factor for multiple sclerosis (MS). Vascular density (VD) is reduced in the eyes of patients with MS on optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography. We performed a 1-year prospective study to estimate VD variations over time and possible clinical correlates. METHODS: A total of 50 patients with MS underwent spectral domain-OCT and OCT angiography at baseline and after 1-year follow-up. Mixed-effect linear regression models were used to assess variations of each OCT measure and its relation to treatment and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: We observed an increase in parafovea VD (coefficient, 1.147; 95% confidence interval, 0.081-2.214; P = 0.035). Reduction in parafovea VD was associated with increase in Expanded Disability Status Scale score (coefficient, -0.969; 95% confidence interval, -1.732/-0.207; P = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: Retinal VD can improve over time in MS, particularly in patients experiencing disease stability. Longer follow-up, inclusion of early MS cases and combination with conventional markers of MS severity (i.e. brain atrophy) are needed to better define VD as a potential new biomarker.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Vascular pathology is increasingly acknowledged as a risk factor for multiple sclerosis (MS). Vascular density (VD) is reduced in the eyes of patients with MS on optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography. We performed a 1-year prospective study to estimate VD variations over time and possible clinical correlates. METHODS: A total of 50 patients with MS underwent spectral domain-OCT and OCT angiography at baseline and after 1-year follow-up. Mixed-effect linear regression models were used to assess variations of each OCT measure and its relation to treatment and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: We observed an increase in parafovea VD (coefficient, 1.147; 95% confidence interval, 0.081-2.214; P = 0.035). Reduction in parafovea VD was associated with increase in Expanded Disability Status Scale score (coefficient, -0.969; 95% confidence interval, -1.732/-0.207; P = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: Retinal VD can improve over time in MS, particularly in patients experiencing disease stability. Longer follow-up, inclusion of early MS cases and combination with conventional markers of MS severity (i.e. brain atrophy) are needed to better define VD as a potential new biomarker.
Authors: Hong Jiang; Giovana Rosa Gameiro; Yi Liu; Ying Lin; Jeffrey Hernandez; Yuqing Deng; Giovanni Gregori; Silvia Delgado; Jianhua Wang Journal: Am J Ophthalmol Date: 2020-01-08 Impact factor: 5.258