[Damage of macular ganglion cell complex and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer in multiple sclerosis]

The aim of this study was to evaluate macular ganglion cell complex (GCC) characteristics and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and to investigate the associations between these parameters and clinical characteristics of patients for evaluation perspectives of using this method for monitoring of disability and neurodegenerative processes. We examined a total of 113 participants (analysis of 211 eyes), divided into three groups: 1. 48 MS patients (66 eyes) with a history of optic neuritis (ON); 2. 35 MS patients (70 eyes) without a history of ON; 3. 30 disease-free control subjects (45 eyes). The estudy included anamnesis collection, neurological examination with assessment of EDSS scores. Refracted visual acuity prior to optical coherence tomography (OCT) was tested. RTVue-100 ОСТ system was used to assess peripapillary RNFL thickness and macular inner parameter (protocol GCC). The strongly correlated decline of the most RNFL and GCC indices was characteristic of all groups of MS patients with and without ON compared to controls. The damage of GCC was greater in patients with ON. The inverse correlation was found between the indices studied and the level of patient's disability. The study of GCC and RNFL thickness can be used to describe and characterize the level of axonal damage in MS and for objectification of neurodegenerative process in studies on neuroprotection and neuroreparation.