Association of retinal nerve layers thickness and brain imaging in healthy young subjects from the <scp>i‐Share‐Bordeaux</scp> study

Purpose The objective of this research is to investigate the ocular neural pathway in individuals affected by pituitary adenoma (PA), by combining two distinct methods: diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). The relationship between retinal blood flow density and neural fiber conduction function in these patients is explored. Methods The case group comprised 24 individuals who had been recently identified and pathologically verified as suffering from PA. A control group was assembled, consisting of 24 subjects who were aligned with the case group in terms of age and gender. All participants underwent OCTA, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and DTI examinations. Differences in the optic disc, macular OCTA parameters, OCT parameters, and DTI parameters between the two groups were compared, and correlations between these parameters were discussed. Results DTI parameters: In the case group, the optic nerve, optic chiasm, optic tract, and optic radiation showed a decline in their fractional anisotropy (FA) values when juxtaposed with the control group. Concurrently, the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values for the optic nerve and optic radiation escalated in comparison to the control group. Parameters of OCTA: In the region of the macula, the density of blood flow across all layers, barring the deep capillary plexus (DCP), was found to be lesser in the subject group when contrasted with the reference group. There was a notable decline in the blood flow density in the radial peripapillary capillaries plexus (RPCP) and the superficial vascular complex (SVC) as well when set against the reference group. Correlation: A statistically significant correlation existed between the blood flow density of all layers of the macular area and the DTI parameters of the optic radiation. Importantly, strong associations were found between the superficial vascular network (SVN) in the macular area and the ADC measurement of the optic nerve, the FA measurement of the optic tract, and the ADC measurement of the optic radiation. This suggests that these values might serve as biomarkers for assessing neural fiber conduction function in the visual pathway. Conclusion OCTA can assess retinal blood flow density in PA patients, while DTI quantifies neural fiber conduction function. The combination of these techniques offers a novel approach for studying visual pathway injury in PA.

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Association of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness with Brain Microstructural Changes in Participants with White Matter Hyperintensities

Wu,

Yan,

et al. 2024

J. Integr. Neurosci.

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Purpose: White matter hyperintensity (WMH) is suggested to cause stroke and dementia in older adults. Retinal structural thicknesses revealed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) are associated with structural changes in the brain. We aimed to explore the association between the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and cerebral microstructural changes in participants with white matter hyperintensities (WMH). Methods: Seventy-four participants (37 controls, healthy control (HC), and 37 older adults with WMH) underwent retinal and brain imaging using OCT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) respectively. Peripapillary RNFL thickness was assessed by the OCT. Gray matter volume (GMV) was assessed from a T1-weighted MRI. White matter integrity was assessed with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) while WMH severity was assessed with the Fazekas scale. All participants underwent a neuropsychological examination (Mini-Mental State Examination, MMSE). Results: Older adults with WMH showed thinner peripapillary RNFL (p = 0.004) thickness when compared with the control group after adjusting for age, hypertension and gender. In our older adults with WMH, RNFL thickness correlated with fractional anisotropy (FA) in the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) (Rho = –0.331, p < 0.001). In older adults with WMH, RNFL was significantly associated with MMSE scores (Rho = 0.422, p < 0.001) and Fazekas scores (Rho = –0.381, p = 0.022) respectively. Conclusions: We suggest neurodegeneration of peripapillary RNFL in older adults with WMH was associated with cerebral microstructural volume, impaired cerebral axonal damage, and cognitive performances. OCT metrics may provide evidence of neurodegeneration that may underpin WMH and cerebral microstructural changes in the brain. Clinical Trial Registration: This study was registered online at the China Clinical Trial Registration Center (registration number: ChiCTR-ROC-17011819).

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Association of retinal nerve layers thickness and brain imaging in healthy young subjects from the i‐Share‐Bordeaux study

Cited by 3 publications

References 62 publications

Retinal structural thicknesses reflect clinically relevant microstructural white matter abnormalities in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders

Retinal structural thicknesses reflect clinically relevant microstructural white matter abnormalities in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders

Analysis of OCTA Features of the Retina and DTI Features of the Visual Pathway in Patients with Pituitary Adenoma

Association of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness with Brain Microstructural Changes in Participants with White Matter Hyperintensities

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