Optical coherence tomography angiography retinal vascular network assessment in multiple sclerosis

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neurology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Vascular abnormalities are implicated in multiple sclerosis (MS) pathology.
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography is a novel technique for assessing vascular network density.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate vascular abnormalities in MS patients using OCT angiography.
• To correlate these vascular changes with clinical disease features and disability.

Main Methods:

• 50 MS patients (with/without optic neuritis) and 46 controls underwent spectral domain OCT and OCT angiography.
• Clinical data, including Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score (MSSS), were collected.

Main Results:

• MS patients exhibited reduced retinal vessel density compared to controls.
• Significant reductions in OCT parameters were observed in MS eyes, with or without optic neuritis.
• Inverse correlations were found between OCT parameters and MSSS (p=0.003), and vessel density and EDSS (p=0.007).

Conclusions:

• Retinal vessel density is reduced in MS patients.
• OCT angiography shows potential as a biomarker for MS disease activity and patient disability.
• Vessel density correlates with clinical disability measures like EDSS.