Неврология, нейропсихиатрия, психосоматика (Dec 2021)

Changes in retinal structures as markers of multiple sclerosis progression

  • M. O. Poplyak,
  • A. G. Trufanov,
  • A. V. Temniy,
  • D. S. Maltsev,
  • O. B. Chakchir,
  • A. V. Mikheev,
  • D. I. Skulyabin,
  • G. N. Bisaga,
  • I. V. Litvinenko,
  • M. M. Odinak

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14412/2074-2711-2021-6-55-61
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 6
pp. 55 – 61

Abstract

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The involvement of the visual pathway in multiple sclerosis (MS) pathology determines the importance of studying the structures of the retina for earlier diagnosis and monitoring the severity of the neurodegeneration. The introduction of the reference method of optical coherence tomography (OCT) allows high resolution in vivo visualization of the retinal structures.Objective: to identify changes in various retinal structures in remitting (RMS) and secondary-progressive (SPMS) MS phenotypes.Patients and methods. The study included 80 patients with RMS (n=48) and SPMS (n=32); the control group included 20 age- and sex-adjusted healthy individuals. Clinical assessment was carried out using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and the Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score (MSSS). All patients were examined by an ophthalmologist. To assess changes in the retina, OCT was performed using the RTVue XR Avanti apparatus (Optovue, USA).Results and discussion. We found a significant (p<0.001) decrease in the thickness of the retina of the foveal and parafoveal regions, the thickness of the ganglionic cell complex when comparing the parameters of the retina of the control group and patients with RMS. There was also a significant (p<0.01) decrease in the retinal thickness in the perifoveal region, the thickness of the layer of retinal nerve fibers, the magnitude of focal and global losses. During comparation of the retinal OCT data between patients with RMS and SPMS, we revealed significant differences (p<0.001) in the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer, the retinal thickness in the parafoveal and foveal regions, and a significant (p<0.01) decrease in the thickness of the peripheral region, the thickness of the ganglionic cell complex, the volume of focal and global losses. Assessment of the correlations of OCT parameters with the EDSS and MSSS scales in both phenotypes showed a single significant (p<0.05) strong negative correlation (r=-0.70) of the EDSS score and retinal thickness in the foveal region in patients with SPMS.Conclusion. As a domain of criteria for the MS course without signs of disease activity (No Evidence of Disease Activity, NEDA), it is advisable to use retinal OCT with analysis of the retinal thickness in the foveal region, the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer, the ganglion cell complex for dynamic monitoring of the inflammatory process activity in patients with RMS and assessment of its progression in patients with SPMS.

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