Optical coherence tomography as a means to characterize visual pathway involvement in multiple sclerosis

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Ophthalmology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) frequently affects the visual pathway.
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a noninvasive imaging technique for quantifying retinal layer thickness.
• OCT is increasingly utilized in MS research and clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the role of OCT in investigating visual pathway damage in multiple sclerosis.
• To discuss OCT's potential in monitoring MS pathology and treatment response.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent OCT studies in multiple sclerosis.
• Analysis of OCT parameters for assessing retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and macular layers.
• Evaluation of OCT for quantifying inflammation and neuroaxonal degeneration.

Main Results:

• Peripapillary RNFL thickness serves as a marker for axonal integrity in MS.
• Macular ganglion cell and inner plexiform layer (GCIP) thickness aids in early detection of neuronal degeneration.
• Macular inner nuclear layer (INL) thickness may indicate inflammatory activity and treatment response.

Conclusions:

• OCT offers insights into MS pathology beyond the visual pathway, quantifying inflammation and neuroaxonal degeneration.
• OCT parameters can serve as outcome measures in clinical trials for neuroprotective or regenerative therapies.
• OCT has the potential to become a key tool for monitoring multiple sclerosis patients.