Background: Neurodegenerative processes are present since the early stages of multiple sclerosis (MS), constituting the primary substrate of disability. As part of the CNS, retinal damage could be considered a reliable prognostic biomarker of neurodegeneration in MS. Objectives: To characterize longitudinal changes in the retinal layers’ thickness and to investigate correlations between retinal atrophy and other prognostic biomarkers, i.e., cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) β-amyloid1–42 (Aβ) levels. Methods: Forty-two eyes without a history of optic neuritis of 23 MS patients were recruited. All patients underwent spectral-domain-OCT scans (SD-OCT), brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and lumbar puncture at baseline. SD-OCT and brain MRI were repeated after 12 months. Ten controls underwent the same OCT procedure. Results: At baseline, macular ganglion cell/inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL) thickness was reduced in patients compared to controls (p = 0.008), without retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning, that was revealed only at follow-up (p = 0.005). Patients with lower CSF Aβ levels displayed reduced RNFL thickness values, both at baseline and follow-up. Conclusions: At very early clinical stages, mGCIPL thickness values were reduced without a concomitant peripapillary RNFL thinning. The longitudinal assessment demonstrated a RNFL loss in patients compared to HC, together with a plateau of mGCIPL thinning. Aβlow subgroup of patients showed a reduction of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness.

Evidence of retinal anterograde neurodegeneration in the very early stages of multiple sclerosis: a longitudinal OCT study / A.M. Pietroboni, T. Carandini, L. Dell'Arti, F. Bovis, A. Colombi, M.A. De Riz, E. Casazza, E. Scola, C. Fenoglio, A. Arighi, G.G. Fumagalli, F. Triulzi, D. Galimberti, F. Viola, E. Scarpini. - In: NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES. - ISSN 1590-1874. - 41:11(2020 Nov), pp. 3175-3183. [10.1007/s10072-020-04431-4]

Evidence of retinal anterograde neurodegeneration in the very early stages of multiple sclerosis: a longitudinal OCT study

A.M. Pietroboni
Primo
;
T. Carandini
Secondo
;
L. Dell'Arti;A. Colombi;M.A. De Riz;C. Fenoglio;A. Arighi;G.G. Fumagalli;F. Triulzi;D. Galimberti;F. Viola
Penultimo
;
E. Scarpini
Ultimo
2020

Abstract

Background: Neurodegenerative processes are present since the early stages of multiple sclerosis (MS), constituting the primary substrate of disability. As part of the CNS, retinal damage could be considered a reliable prognostic biomarker of neurodegeneration in MS. Objectives: To characterize longitudinal changes in the retinal layers’ thickness and to investigate correlations between retinal atrophy and other prognostic biomarkers, i.e., cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) β-amyloid1–42 (Aβ) levels. Methods: Forty-two eyes without a history of optic neuritis of 23 MS patients were recruited. All patients underwent spectral-domain-OCT scans (SD-OCT), brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and lumbar puncture at baseline. SD-OCT and brain MRI were repeated after 12 months. Ten controls underwent the same OCT procedure. Results: At baseline, macular ganglion cell/inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL) thickness was reduced in patients compared to controls (p = 0.008), without retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning, that was revealed only at follow-up (p = 0.005). Patients with lower CSF Aβ levels displayed reduced RNFL thickness values, both at baseline and follow-up. Conclusions: At very early clinical stages, mGCIPL thickness values were reduced without a concomitant peripapillary RNFL thinning. The longitudinal assessment demonstrated a RNFL loss in patients compared to HC, together with a plateau of mGCIPL thinning. Aβlow subgroup of patients showed a reduction of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness.
Biomarkers; Multiple sclerosis; Neurodegeneration; OCT; β-Amyloid; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Retina; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Multiple Sclerosis; Optic Neuritis
Settore MED/26 - Neurologia
Settore BIO/13 - Biologia Applicata
Settore MED/30 - Malattie Apparato Visivo
nov-2020
30-apr-2020
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/929798
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