Thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer correlates with disease duration in parallel with corticospinal tract dysfunction in untreated multiple sclerosis

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an emerging clinical and research measure of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) loss in multiple sclerosis (MS) and may reflect neurodegeneration. Few studies capture the effect of disease duration on the RNFL in subjects without exposure to disease-modulating the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of rehabilitation research and development 2009-01, Vol.46 (5), p.633-642
Main Authors: Spain, Rebecca I, Maltenfort, Mitchell, Sergott, Robert C, Leist, Thomas P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Clinical trials
Complications and side effects
CT imaging
Degeneration
Disease
Disease Progression
Female
Humans
Male
Medical imaging
Middle Aged
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis - diagnosis
Multiple Sclerosis - physiopathology
Nervous system
Neurofibrils
Optic Nerve - pathology
Optic Nerve - physiopathology
Physiological aspects
Pyramidal Tracts - physiopathology
Sample size
Studies
Time Factors
Tomography, Optical Coherence
Young Adult
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Summary:Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an emerging clinical and research measure of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) loss in multiple sclerosis (MS) and may reflect neurodegeneration. Few studies capture the effect of disease duration on the RNFL in subjects without exposure to disease-modulating therapies.We assessed the relationship of RNFL loss with disease duration in subjects with untreated MS and determined if such loss paralleled corticospinal tract dysfunction in MS.Subjects underwent OCT (n = 52) and visual testing (n = 60). Either they were either examined or they participated in a validated telephone interview so we could determine their Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores.Both RNFL thickness (Spearman r(s) = -0.47, p < 0.001) and EDSS scores ( r(s) = 0.51, p < 0.001) correlated with disease duration. RNFL thickness correlated with EDSS scores (r(s) = -0.43, p < 0.001).In conclusion, RNFL loss correlates with disease duration and EDSS scores in subjects with untreated MS, indicating that OCT may capture neurodegeneration.
ISSN:0748-7711
1938-1352
DOI:10.1682/JRRD.2008.11.0156