Optical coherence tomography reflects brain atrophy in multiple sclerosis: A four‐year study

ObjectiveThe aim of this work was to determine whether atrophy of specific retinal layers and brain substructures are associated over time, in order to further validate the utility of optical coherence tomography (OCT) as an indicator of neuronal tissue damage in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). MethodsCirrus high‐definition OCT (including automated macular segmentation) was performed in 107 MS patients biannually (median follow‐up: 46 months). Three‐Tesla magnetic resonance imaging brain scans (including brain‐substructure volumetrics) were performed annually. Individual‐specific rates of change in retinal and brain measures (estimated with linear regression) were correlated, adjusting for age, sex, disease duration, and optic neuritis (ON) history. ResultsRates of ganglion cell + inner plexiform layer (GCIP) and whole‐brain (r = 0.45; p < 0.001), gray matter (GM; r = 0.37; p < 0.001), white matter (WM; r = 0.28; p = 0.007), and thalamic (r = 0.38; p < 0.001) atrophy were associated. GCIP and whole‐brain (as well as GM and WM) atrophy rates were more strongly associated in progressive MS (r = 0.67; p < 0.001) than relapsing‐remitting MS (RRMS; r = 0.33; p = 0.007). However, correlation between rates of GCIP and whole‐brain (and additionally GM and WM) atrophy in RRMS increased incrementally with step‐wise refinement to exclude ON effects; excluding eyes and then patients (to account for...
Source: Annals of Neurology - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Research Article Source Type: research