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

• 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
• ISSN: 0748-7711; 1938-1352
• DOI: 10.1682/JRRD.2008.11.0156

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.