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Retinal nerve fiber layer is associated with brain atrophy in multiple sclerosis
E Gordon-Lipkin1, B Chodkowski, D S Reich
1Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Neurology
|October 17, 2007
Summary
Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) is associated with brain atrophy in multiple sclerosis (MS). This suggests OCT can provide insights into MRI brain abnormalities in MS patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
- Radiology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by neurodegeneration, including retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning.
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a noninvasive imaging technique to measure RNFL thickness.
- Brain atrophy, quantified by brain parenchymal fraction (BPF), is a key MRI marker in MS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between RNFL thickness measured by OCT and brain atrophy in patients with MS.
- To determine if RNFL thickness correlates with specific measures of brain volume loss in MS.
Main Methods:
- RNFL thickness was measured using OCT in 40 MS patients and 15 controls.
- Brain parenchymal fraction (BPF) and partial brain volumes were assessed via cranial MRI using SIENA-X.
- Multiple linear regression models were employed to analyze the relationship between OCT and MRI measures.
Main Results:
- RNFL thickness and age significantly predicted BPF variance in MS patients (21%) and RRMS subgroup (43%).
- A significant positive correlation was found between BPF and RNFL thickness in MS patients (r=0.46, p=0.003) and RRMS patients (r=0.69, p=0.001), driven by CSF volume.
- No significant associations were observed in control subjects.
Conclusions:
- RNFL thickness is significantly associated with brain parenchymal fraction and CSF volume in MS.
- OCT-derived RNFL thickness offers concurrent information on MRI-detected brain abnormalities in MS.
- Longitudinal OCT studies are warranted to explore its utility as an outcome measure in MS clinical trials for neuroprotective therapies.
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