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Retinal imaging and axonal degeneration in later onset multiple sclerosis
Konstantin Huhn1, Robert Lämmer2, Hanna Zimmermann3
1Department of Neurology, University of Erlangen, Germany.
Journal of the Neurological Sciences
|October 25, 2016
Summary
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) onset age does not affect retinal neurodegeneration. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) shows similar retinal thinning in later-onset MS (LOMS) and normal-onset MS (NOMS) compared to healthy controls.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
- Immunology
Background:
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory CNS disease causing neuro-axonal degeneration.
- Later-onset MS (LOMS, onset >50 years) effects on neurodegeneration are less understood.
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) non-invasively assesses retinal neurodegeneration.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate retinal layer differences in LOMS versus normal-onset MS (NOMS).
- Utilize OCT to detect neuro-axonal damage in LOMS.
- Compare retinal structure in LOMS, NOMS, and healthy controls (HC).
Main Methods:
- Included 14 LOMS, 14 NOMS (age/duration-matched), and 15 HC.
- Performed OCT measurements of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), macular volume (TMV), ganglion cell/inner plexiform layer (GCIPL), inner nuclear layer (INL), and outer retinal layers (ORL).
- Analyzed clinical features and effects of previous optic neuritis (ON).
Main Results:
- LOMS patients showed no significant differences in retinal layer thickness compared to NOMS patients.
- Optic neuritis (ON) significantly reduced retinal layer thickness in all MS groups.
- All MS groups (LOMS and NOMS) exhibited reduced retinal layer thickness compared to HC, irrespective of onset type.
Conclusions:
- Retinal neurodegeneration in MS appears independent of disease onset age.
- Findings align with existing OCT data for normal-onset MS.
- OCT is a valuable tool for assessing neurodegeneration in MS subgroups.
