BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (pRNFL) thickness is a strong candidate as a biomarker of axonal degeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim was to determine a cut-off value of pRNFL thinning rates in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) to discriminate between stable and progressing patients. METHODS: In this 3-year prospective longitudinal study on 141 RRMS patients, annual pRNFL thinning rates (aLpRNFL) were determined by individual linear regression models. The best possible cut-off value discriminating clinically progressing (physical progression or cognitive decline) and stable patients was defined by receiver operating characteristic analysis. Cut-off values were validated using a multivariate logistic regression model. RESULTS: Average aLpRNFL in progressing patients (2.4 μm, SD 2.1) was significantly higher compared to stable patients (0.5 μm, SD 1.2, P < 0.001). At a predefined specificity of 90%, aLpRNFL >1.5 μm was able to distinguish between stable and progressing RRMS with a sensitivity of 76.1%. aLpRNFL >1.5 μm was associated with a 15-fold increased risk of clinically progressing MS (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A cut-off of aLpRNFL discriminating clinically progressing and stable RRMS was identified. After validation in independent cohorts, this cut-off could be used as a biomarker of axonal degeneration supporting disease monitoring in daily clinical routine.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:Peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (pRNFL) thickness is a strong candidate as a biomarker of axonal degeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim was to determine a cut-off value of pRNFL thinning rates in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) to discriminate between stable and progressing patients. METHODS: In this 3-year prospective longitudinal study on 141 RRMS patients, annual pRNFL thinning rates (aLpRNFL) were determined by individual linear regression models. The best possible cut-off value discriminating clinically progressing (physical progression or cognitive decline) and stable patients was defined by receiver operating characteristic analysis. Cut-off values were validated using a multivariate logistic regression model. RESULTS: Average aLpRNFL in progressing patients (2.4 μm, SD 2.1) was significantly higher compared to stable patients (0.5 μm, SD 1.2, P < 0.001). At a predefined specificity of 90%, aLpRNFL >1.5 μm was able to distinguish between stable and progressing RRMS with a sensitivity of 76.1%. aLpRNFL >1.5 μm was associated with a 15-fold increased risk of clinically progressing MS (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A cut-off of aLpRNFL discriminating clinically progressing and stable RRMS was identified. After validation in independent cohorts, this cut-off could be used as a biomarker of axonal degeneration supporting disease monitoring in daily clinical routine.
Authors: Natascha Schurz; Lydia Sariaslani; Patrick Altmann; Fritz Leutmezer; Christoph Mitsch; Berthold Pemp; Paulus Rommer; Tobias Zrzavy; Thomas Berger; Gabriel Bsteh Journal: Eye Brain Date: 2021-03-12
Authors: Gabriel Bsteh; Harald Hegen; Patrick Altmann; Michael Auer; Klaus Berek; Franziska Di Pauli; Fritz Leutmezer; Paulus Rommer; Sebastian Wurth; Anne Zinganell; Tobias Zrzavy; Florian Deisenhammer; Thomas Berger Journal: Eur J Neurol Date: 2021-04-02 Impact factor: 6.089
Authors: Gabriel Bsteh; Harald Hegen; Patrick Altmann; Michael Auer; Klaus Berek; Franziska Di Pauli; Sebastian Wurth; Anne Zinganell; Paulus Rommer; Florian Deisenhammer; Fritz Leutmezer; Thomas Berger Journal: Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin Date: 2020-10-29
Authors: Nik Krajnc; Patrick Altmann; Katharina Riedl; Christoph Mitsch; Thomas Berger; Fritz Leutmezer; Paulus Rommer; Berthold Pemp; Gabriel Bsteh Journal: Front Neurol Date: 2022-03-07 Impact factor: 4.003