Significant retinal microvascular impairments in multiple sclerosis assessed through optical coherence tomography angiography

Wang, Xuejiao; Wang, Xuqian; Chou, Yi-Hung; Ma, Jing; Zhong, Yuxin

doi:10.1016/j.msard.2023.104505

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Retinal vessel loss as measured by OCTA is frequently found in the eyes of individuals with MS and past ON. Here, rarefication of superficial vessel structures after ON is a consistent finding across different OCTA devices ( 7 – 11 , 26 ). We could recently show that superficial vessel thinning evolves simultaneously to GCIP atrophy after acute ON ( 10 ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 67%

Association of retinal vessel pathology and brain atrophy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Romahn,

Wiltgen,

Bussas

et al. 2023

Front. Immunol.

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BackgroundOptical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) allows non-invasive assessment of retinal vessel structures. Thinning and loss of retinal vessels is evident in eyes of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and might be associated with a proinflammatory disease phenotype and worse prognosis. We investigated whether changes of the retinal vasculature are linked to brain atrophy and disability in MS.Material and methodsThis study includes one longitudinal observational cohort (n=79) of patients with relapsing-remitting MS. Patients underwent annual assessment of the expanded disability status scale (EDSS), timed 25-foot walk, symbol digit modalities test (SDMT), retinal optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCTA, and brain MRI during a follow-up duration of at least 20 months. We investigated intra-individual associations between changes in the retinal architecture, vasculature, brain atrophy and disability. Eyes with a history of optic neuritis (ON) were excluded.ResultsWe included 79 patients with a median disease duration of 12 (interquartile range 2 - 49) months and a median EDSS of 1.0 (0 - 2.0). Longitudinal retinal axonal and ganglion cell loss were linked to grey matter atrophy, cortical atrophy, and volume loss of the putamen. We observed an association between vessel loss of the superficial vascular complex (SVC) and both grey and white matter atrophy. Both observations were independent of retinal ganglion cell loss. Moreover, patients with worsening of the EDSS and SDMT revealed a pronounced longitudinal rarefication of the SVC and the deep vascular complex.DiscussionON-independent narrowing of the retinal vasculature might be linked to brain atrophy and disability in MS. Our findings suggest that retinal OCTA might be a new tool for monitoring neurodegeneration during MS.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 67%

Association of retinal vessel pathology and brain atrophy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Romahn,

Wiltgen,

Bussas

et al. 2023

Front. Immunol.

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“…Some studies indicated that eyes from MS patients had significantly decreased retinal vessel density in the superficial vascular complex (SVC) and deep vascular complex (DVC) compared with healthy controls, and that vessel density reduction was even greater in eyes with ON [7][8][9][10][11], associated with reduced oxygen extraction and retinal blood flow [12]; however, other studies did not find any vessel density reduction in MS eyes compared with healthy eyes or a difference between MS eyes with vs. without ON [8][9][10]. There are also many inconsistencies regarding the location of and mechanisms underlying these vascular changes [8][9][10]. Considering the close interaction between retinal vessels and neurons, and that vascular dysfunction may contribute to neurodegeneration, it is important to further clarify whether vascular alterations occur in ON or not.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Non-Invasive Evaluation of Retinal Vascular Alterations in a Mouse Model of Optic Neuritis Using Laser Speckle Flowgraphy and Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

Buscho,

Xia,

Shi

et al. 2023

Cells

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Optic neuritis, a characteristic feature of multiple sclerosis (MS), involves the inflammation of the optic nerve and the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Although previous studies suggest that retinal blood flow alterations occur during optic neuritis, the precise location, the degree of impairment, and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we utilized two emerging non-invasive imaging techniques, laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), to investigate retinal vascular changes in a mouse model of MS, known as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). We associated these changes with leukostasis, RGC injury, and the overall progression of EAE. LSFG imaging revealed a progressive reduction in retinal blood flow velocity and increased vascular resistance near the optic nerve head in the EAE model, indicating impaired ocular blood flow. OCTA imaging demonstrated significant decreases in vessel density, number of junctions, and total vessel length in the intermediate and deep capillary plexus of the EAE mice. Furthermore, our analysis of leukostasis revealed a significant increase in adherent leukocytes in the retinal vasculature of the EAE mice, suggesting the occurrence of vascular inflammation in the early development of EAE pathology. The abovechanges preceded or were accompanied by the characteristic hallmarks of optic neuritis, such as RGC loss and reduced visual acuity. Overall, our study sheds light on the intricate relationship between retinal vascular alterations and the progression of optic neuritis as well as MS clinical score. It also highlights the potential for the development of image-based biomarkers for the diagnosis and monitoring of optic neuritis as well as MS, particularly in response to emerging treatments.

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“…Ocular symptoms may occur at any stage of the disease. Their course can be clinically latent or very intensive [8,9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental Analysis of Tear Fluid and Its Processing for the Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis

Tomečková

Tkáčiková

Talian

et al. 2023

Sensors

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A pilot analysis of the tear fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) collected by glass microcapillary was performed using various experimental methods: liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, Raman spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and atomic-force microscopy. Infrared spectroscopy found no significant difference between the tear fluid of MS patients and the control spectra; all three significant peaks were located at around the same positions. Raman analysis showed differences between the spectra of the tear fluid of MS patients and the spectra of healthy subjects, which indicated a decrease in tryptophan and phenylalanine content and changes in the relative contributions of the secondary structures of the polypeptide chains of tear proteins. Atomic-force microscopy exhibited a surface fern-shaped dendrite morphology of the tear fluid of patients with MS, with less roughness on both oriented silicon (100) and glass substrates compared to the tear fluid of control subjects. The results of liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry showed downregulation of glycosphingolipid metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, and lipid metabolism. Proteomic analysis identified upregulated proteins in the tear fluid of patients with MS such as cystatine, phospholipid transfer protein, transcobalamin-1, immunoglobulin lambda variable 1–47, lactoperoxidase, and ferroptosis suppressor protein 1; and downregulated proteins such as haptoglobin, prosaposin, cytoskeletal keratin type I pre-mRNA-processing factor 17, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, and phospholipase A2. This study showed that the tear proteome in patients with MS is modified and can reflect inflammation. Tear fluid is not a commonly used biological material in clinico-biochemical laboratories. Experimental proteomics has the potential to become a promising contemporary tool for personalized medicine, and it might be applied in clinical practice by providing a detailed analysis of the tear-fluid proteomic profile of patients with MS.

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Significant retinal microvascular impairments in multiple sclerosis assessed through optical coherence tomography angiography

Cited by 5 publications

References 26 publications

Association of retinal vessel pathology and brain atrophy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Association of retinal vessel pathology and brain atrophy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Non-Invasive Evaluation of Retinal Vascular Alterations in a Mouse Model of Optic Neuritis Using Laser Speckle Flowgraphy and Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

Experimental Analysis of Tear Fluid and Its Processing for the Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis

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