TY - JOUR
T1 - Alterations in the retinal vasculature occur in multiple sclerosis and exhibit novel correlations with disability and visual function measures
AU - Murphy, Olwen C.
AU - Kwakyi, Ohemaa
AU - Iftikhar, Mustafa
AU - Zafar, Sidra
AU - Lambe, Jeffrey
AU - Pellegrini, Nicole
AU - Sotirchos, Elias S.
AU - Gonzalez-Caldito, Natalia
AU - Ogbuokiri, Esther
AU - Filippatou, Angeliki
AU - Risher, Hunter
AU - Cowley, Norah
AU - Feldman, Sydney
AU - Fioravante, Nicholas
AU - Frohman, Elliot M.
AU - Frohman, Teresa C.
AU - Balcer, Laura J.
AU - Prince, Jerry L.
AU - Channa, Roomasa
AU - Calabresi, Peter A.
AU - Saidha, Shiv
PY - 2020/6/1
Y1 - 2020/6/1
N2 - Background: The retinal vasculature may be altered in multiple sclerosis (MS), potentially acting as a biomarker of disease processes. Objective: To compare retinal vascular plexus densities in people with MS (PwMS) and healthy controls (HCs), and examine correlations with visual function and global disability. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 111 PwMS (201 eyes) and 50 HCs (97 eyes) underwent optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Macular superficial vascular plexus (SVP) and deep vascular plexus (DVP) densities were quantified, and poor quality images were excluded according to an artifact-rating protocol. Results: Mean SVP density was 24.1% (SD = 5.5) in MS eyes (26.0% (SD = 4.7) in non-optic neuritis (ON) eyes vs. 21.7% (SD = 5.5) in ON eyes, p < 0.001), as compared to 29.2% (SD = 3.3) in HC eyes (p < 0.001 for all MS eyes and multiple sclerosis optic neuritis (MSON) eyes vs. HC eyes, p = 0.03 for MS non-ON eyes vs. HC eyes). DVP density did not differ between groups. In PwMS, lower SVP density was associated with higher levels of disability (expanded disability status scale (EDSS): R2 = 0.26, p = 0.004; multiple sclerosis functional composite (MSFC): R2 = 0.27, p = 0.03) and lower letter acuity scores (100% contrast: R2 = 0.29; 2.5% contrast: R2 = 0.40; 1.25% contrast: R2 = 0.31; p < 0.001 for all). Conclusions: Retinal SVP density measured by OCTA is reduced across MS eyes, and correlates with visual function, EDSS, and MSFC scores.
AB - Background: The retinal vasculature may be altered in multiple sclerosis (MS), potentially acting as a biomarker of disease processes. Objective: To compare retinal vascular plexus densities in people with MS (PwMS) and healthy controls (HCs), and examine correlations with visual function and global disability. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 111 PwMS (201 eyes) and 50 HCs (97 eyes) underwent optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Macular superficial vascular plexus (SVP) and deep vascular plexus (DVP) densities were quantified, and poor quality images were excluded according to an artifact-rating protocol. Results: Mean SVP density was 24.1% (SD = 5.5) in MS eyes (26.0% (SD = 4.7) in non-optic neuritis (ON) eyes vs. 21.7% (SD = 5.5) in ON eyes, p < 0.001), as compared to 29.2% (SD = 3.3) in HC eyes (p < 0.001 for all MS eyes and multiple sclerosis optic neuritis (MSON) eyes vs. HC eyes, p = 0.03 for MS non-ON eyes vs. HC eyes). DVP density did not differ between groups. In PwMS, lower SVP density was associated with higher levels of disability (expanded disability status scale (EDSS): R2 = 0.26, p = 0.004; multiple sclerosis functional composite (MSFC): R2 = 0.27, p = 0.03) and lower letter acuity scores (100% contrast: R2 = 0.29; 2.5% contrast: R2 = 0.40; 1.25% contrast: R2 = 0.31; p < 0.001 for all). Conclusions: Retinal SVP density measured by OCTA is reduced across MS eyes, and correlates with visual function, EDSS, and MSFC scores.
KW - Multiple sclerosis
KW - angiography
KW - optical coherence tomography
KW - retinal vasculature
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U2 - 10.1177/1352458519845116
DO - 10.1177/1352458519845116
M3 - Article
C2 - 31094280
AN - SCOPUS:85066817855
VL - 26
SP - 815
EP - 828
JO - Multiple Sclerosis
JF - Multiple Sclerosis
SN - 1352-4585
IS - 7
ER -