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Evaluation of Capillary and Other Vessel Contribution to Macular Perfusion Density Measured with Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography
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Peripapillary Vessel Density as Early Biomarker in Multiple Sclerosis
Gilda Cennamo1, Antonio Carotenuto2, Daniela Montorio2
1Eye Clinic, Public Health Department, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Frontiers in Neurology
|July 7, 2020
Summary
Retinal vessel density (VD) is reduced in the peripapillary region in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) at initial demyelinating event (IDE) and relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). This reduction may serve as an early biomarker for MS pathology.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neurology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease.
- Retinal neurodegeneration is increasingly recognized in MS.
- Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCT-A) allows non-invasive assessment of retinal microvasculature.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare retinal vessel density (VD) in macular and peripapillary regions between patients with recent onset of MS (Initial Demyelinating Event - IDE) and matched Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS) patients.
- To assess VD in different retinal plexuses (superficial, deep, choriocapillaris, radial peripapillary) using OCT-A.
- To identify potential early microvascular changes in MS.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study evaluating VD using OCT-A.
- Inclusion of patients with IDE (n=20), RRMS (n=10), and healthy controls (HCs, n=15).
- Analysis of VD in superficial capillary plexus, deep capillary plexus, choriocapillaris, and radial peripapillary capillary plexus.
Main Results:
- IDE patients exhibited significantly lower VD in the radial peripapillary capillary plexus compared to HCs (p=0.002).
- RRMS patients showed significantly reduced VD in both superficial capillary plexus (p=0.002) and radial peripapillary capillary plexus (p<0.001) compared to HCs.
- RRMS patients had significantly lower VD in the radial peripapillary capillary plexus compared to IDE patients (p=0.003).
Conclusions:
- Reduced peripapillary vessel density, detectable by OCT-A, may represent an early pathological event in MS.
- Peripapillary VD reduction could serve as a valuable biomarker for MS disease pathology.
- OCT-A is a promising tool for monitoring microvascular changes in MS.
