Ganglion Cell Layer Thickness as a Biomarker for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Outcome: An OCT study

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neurology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting motor neurons.
• Ocular structures, including the retina, may be affected in ALS, offering potential biomarkers.
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides high-resolution cross-sectional imaging of the retina.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between various OCT parameters and functional status in ALS patients.
• To determine if retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell layer (GCL) thickness correlate with ALSFRS scores.

Main Methods:

• Patients diagnosed with ALS underwent comprehensive eye examinations, including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement, and fundus examination.
• High-resolution OCT (CIRRUS™ HD OCT) was used to measure optic nerve head and macular parameters, specifically RNFL and GCL thickness.
• Pearson correlation analysis was employed to assess the relationship between OCT parameters and ALSFRS scores.

Main Results:

• Average RNFL thickness showed weak and statistically insignificant correlations with ALSFRS scores.
• Average GCL thickness exhibited moderate, statistically significant positive correlations with ALSFRS scores in both eyes.
• Age-group analysis revealed significant RNFL thinning in ALS patients under 50 compared to controls.

Conclusions:

• GCL thickness measurements demonstrate a significant association with functional outcomes in ALS patients, as measured by ALSFRS.
• RNFL thickness did not show a significant correlation with functional status in this ALS cohort.
• OCT-derived GCL measurements may serve as a valuable tool for monitoring disease progression and functional disability in ALS.