Correlation between spectral-domain optical coherence tomography parameters and neurological functional disability in multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Purpose The aim of the present study was to correlate optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters, including peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness and ganglion cell complex (GCC), retinal sensitivity (mean deviation and pattern SD of perimetry) and best-corrected visual acuity, with disease duration and neurological functional disability in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with a history of optic neuritis (MS-ON) and without history of optic neuritis (MS-NON). Patients and methods The present cross-sectional, observational cohort study included 68 patients with MS and 23 age-matched and sex-matched healthy controls. All patients and controls underwent ophthalmic examination including visual acuity, visual field examination, OCT and neurological assessment. Results RNFL thickness was found to be decreased in MS eyes (89.35 μm) compared with controls (117.79 μm) (P < 0.000). MS eyes had decreased GCC (85.58 μm) compared with controls (96.16 μm) (P < 0.048). MS-ON eyes had decreased RNFL thickness (84.05 μm) compared with patients with MS-NON (92.41 μm) (P < 0.047). RNFL thickness was significantly negatively correlated to functional disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale) (P < 0.042) and disease duration (P < 0.000). GCC was significantly negatively correlated to disease duration (P < 0.008). Conclusion RNFL and GCC are significantly decreased in MS. OCT is a promising tool to detect subclinical changes in RNFL and GCC in patients with MS, and should be examined in longitudinal studies as a potential biomarker of retinal pathology in MS.

Keywords

• expanded Disability Status Scale
• ganglion cell complex
• optical coherence tomography
• perimetry
• retinal nerve fibre layer