Evaluation of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer and Ganglion Cell Complex in Patients with Optic Neuritis or Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders Using Optical Coherence Tomography in a Chinese Cohort

Abstract

We evaluate a cohort of optic neuritis and neuromyelitis optica (NMO) spectrum disorders patients in a territory hospital in China. The peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and macular ganglion cell complex (GCC) were measured using spectral-domain OCT after 6 months of acute onset. The results showed that both the peripapillary RNFL and macular GCC were significantly thinner in all optic neuritis subtypes compared to controls. In addition, the recurrent optic neuritis and NMO groups showed more severe damage on the RNFL and GCC pattern.

The Contribution of Optical Coherence Tomography in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders

“…For example, the decrease in pRNFL thickness and macular volume is apparently associated with the degree of visual disability in NMOSD, and the same can be observed with the decrease in the thickness of the GCL. Similar effects can be observed in MS ( 10 , 15 , 24 , 33 , 46 ). Although while in MS there is a clear correlation between the reduction in pRNFL and GCL thickness and general disability, this correlation has not been reported as frequently in NMOSD ( 15 , 26 , 47 – 50 ).…”

“…Another frequent alteration highlighted by OCT in NMOSD is the reduced thickness of the ganglion cell layer (GCL) in the macula ( 10 , 11 , 15 , 33 , 36 ). This alteration has also been described in other neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and MS ( 10 , 37 ).…”

Diffusion‐weighted imaging helps differentiate multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica‐related acute optic neuritis

“…OCT can be used to evaluate the structure damage caused by optic neuritis according to the thickness of the RNFL and GCC . In acute stage of optic neuritis, the RNFL thickness was increased with optic disc swelling.…”

“…OCT can be used to evaluate the structure damage caused by optic neuritis according to the thickness of the RNFL and GCC. 26,27 In acute stage of optic neuritis, the RNFL thickness was increased with optic disc swelling. Dramatic reductions in the RNFL and GCC thicknesses along with optic nerve atrophy have been observed after 6 months.…”

Optische Kohärenztomografie in der Neurologie – Methodik und Anwendung in Forschung und Klinik

“…Stets war jedoch die ON neben Myelitis ein Kardinalsymptom der Neuromyelitis optica [79]. Zahlreiche OCT-Studien haben übereinstimmend gezeigt, dass ON in NMOSD zu deutlich stärkerer Verdünnung der RNFL und GCIP führt als ON in MS [22,[96][97][98][99][100][101][102][103][104][105][106]. Während die RNFL bei MS typischerweise betont im temporalen Quadranten verdünnt ist, können in NMOSD alle Bereiche betroffen sein [97] (▶Abb.…”