Relationship between retinal inner nuclear layer, age, and disease activity in progressive MS

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neurology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Progressive multiple sclerosis (P-MS) is characterized by neurodegeneration.
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive imaging technique to assess retinal layers.
• Inner nuclear layer (INL) thickness changes may indicate disease activity or progression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differences in inner nuclear layer (INL) thickness in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (P-MS).
• To determine if INL thickness varies based on patient age and disease activity (clinical/MRI).
• To compare INL thickness between P-MS patients and healthy controls (HCs).

Main Methods:

• Retrospective longitudinal analysis of 84 P-MS patients and 36 HCs.
• OCT assessed peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL), ganglion cell layer + inner plexiform layer (GCIPL), and INL thickness.
• Patients stratified by age (51 years cutoff) and recent (12-month) clinical/MRI activity.

Main Results:

• P-MS patients had significantly lower pRNFL and GCIPL thickness than HCs.
• INL was significantly thicker in younger P-MS patients (<51 years) and those with recent MRI activity compared to older patients and HCs.
• Greater INL thickness significantly predicted recent MRI activity in P-MS patients.

Conclusions:

• Inner nuclear layer (INL) thickness is elevated in younger P-MS patients with recent MRI activity.
• INL thickness may serve as a biomarker for disease activity in P-MS.
• This finding could aid in stratifying P-MS patients for treatment selection.