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Published on: April 14, 2014
Recurrence-Independent Progressive Inner-Retinal Thinning After Optic Neuritis: A Longitudinal Study
Yeji Moon1, Yujin Gim, Kyung-Ah Park
1Department of Ophthalmology (YM), Asan Medical Center and University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Department of Ophthalmology (YG), Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, Korea; Department of Ophthalmology (K-AP), Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Department of Ophthalmology (HKY), Seoul National University College of Medicine and Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea; Department of Ophthalmology (S-JK, JHJ), Seoul National University College of Medicine and Hospital, Seoul, Korea; and Department of Neurology (S-MK), Seoul National University College of Medicine and Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Inner retina thinning progresses in patients with optic neuritis (ON) independent of relapses, particularly in aquaporin 4-ON, MOG-ON, and MS-ON. Long-term monitoring and neuroprotection are crucial for managing ON patients.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
Background:
- Longitudinal monitoring of inner retinal changes in optic neuritis (ON) is vital for patient management and treatment decisions.
- Investigating these changes post-acute ON can reveal underlying disease progression and associated factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze longitudinal changes in the inner retina after acute demyelinating ON subsides.
- To identify factors influencing these retinal changes in various ON subtypes.
Main Methods:
- A multicenter retrospective observational study involving 77 patients with ON.
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) measured peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) and macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL) thickness.
- Follow-up examinations were conducted over a mean duration of 29.6 months, excluding ON recurrences.
Main Results:
- Significant pRNFL thinning observed in AQP4-IgG, MOG-antibody, and MS-ON groups, but not in idiopathic ON (iON).
- Significant mGCIPL thinning noted in AQP4-IgG and MOG-antibody groups, with no significant thinning in MS-ON or iON groups.
- Age over 40 was associated with accelerated mGCIPL thinning (P=0.005).
Conclusions:
- Inner retina thinning progresses in AQP4-ON, MOG-ON, and MS-ON, irrespective of relapse activity.
- Subclinical neuroaxonal damage continues post-ON attack, even with suppressed new attacks.
- Long-term follow-up and neuroprotective strategies are essential components of ON patient care.
