Structural brain abnormalities are related to retinal nerve fiber layer thinning and disease duration in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders

Abstract

Our findings indicate a role for retrograde and anterograde neurodegeneration in GM atrophy in NMOSD. However, the presence atrophy encompassing almost all lobes suggests that additional pathomechanisms might also be involved.

Bidirectional trans-synaptic axonal degeneration in the visual pathway in multiple sclerosis

“…We observed a clear association between retinal layer thickness and global NWMV and NGMV, which is consistent with previous studies in MS30 31 and NMO 32. These data suggest that trans-synaptic degeneration might not be restricted to the visual pathway but could disseminate through the whole-brain.…”

Neuromyelitis optica does not impact periventricular venous density versus healthy controls: a 7.0 Tesla MRI clinical study

“…On the one hand, studies using volumetrics [23], spectroscopy [22], and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) [24] have shown that diffuse brain atrophy in NMOSD is less pronounced than in MS, or even similar to healthy control subjects. Other studies identified widespread brain alterations in NMOSD [21,26]. These changes were, however, less severe than in MS, which is in line with our results showing a weak trend of smaller PVA values in NMOSD versus healthy volunteers.…”

Gray Matter Volume Reduction Is Associated with Cognitive Impairment in Neuromyelitis Optica

“…[14][15][16] We found GMV reductions in the frontal and temporal lobes and thalamus, the range of which largely surpassed the brain regions connected to the spinal cord and optic nerves. Therefore, the mechanism of axonal degeneration secondary to the damage of the spinal cord and optic nerves cannot fully explain these extensive reductions in the GMV.…”

“…Although several investigations have revealed gray matter impairment in NMO by comparing intergroup differences in the regional homogeneity, 7 amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation, 8 diffusivity, [9][10][11] perfusion, 12 and magnetization transfer ratio, 13 whether GM structural impairment is a feature of NMO is an ongoing debate. Several studies have identified reductions in GM volume (GMV) [14][15][16] or cortical thickness 17 in patients with NMO;…”