AUTHOR=Birkeldh Ulrika , Manouchehrinia Ali , Hietala Max Albert , Hillert Jan , Olsson Tomas , Piehl Fredrik , Kockum Ingrid Skelton , Brundin Lou , Zahavi Ori , Wahlberg-Ramsay Marika , Brautaset Rune , Nilsson Maria TITLE=The Temporal Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness Is the Most Important Optical Coherence Tomography Estimate in Multiple Sclerosis JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology VOLUME=8 YEAR=2017 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2017.00675 DOI=10.3389/fneur.2017.00675 ISSN=1664-2295 ABSTRACT=Background

Reduced peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) and combined ganglion cell and inner plexiform layer (GCIP) thicknesses as measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) have been observed in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The purpose was to determine the most associative OCT measure to level of cognitive and physical disability in MS.

Methods

Data were collected from 546 MS patients and 175 healthy controls (HCs). We compared the average pRNFL, temporal pRNFL (T-pRNFL), overall inner ganglion cell/inner plexiform layer (GCIP), and the overall ganglion cell complex (GCC) including macular RNFL and GCIP thicknesses measurements in differentiating MS subtypes from HCs. The association between OCT measures, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), and Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) were assessed using generalized estimating equations models.

Results

Both peripapillary and macular OCT measurements could differentiate all MS subtypes from HCs. The SDMT score was significantly associated with reduced thickness of all OCT measures, mostly in average pRNFL (0.14 µm, P = 0.001) and T-pRNFL (0.17 µm, P < 0.001). The EDSS score was significantly associated with reduced inner retinal layer thickness. The largest reduction was seen in T-pRNFL (−1.52 μm, P < 0.001) and inner GCC (−1.78 μm, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The T-pRNFL is highly sensitive and associated with level of both cognitive and physical disability.