Abstract
Purpose :
To assess in detail retinal and optic nerve function using electrophysiological methods in patients with newly diagnosed relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).
Methods :
Patients diagnosed with MS with or without a history of optic neuritis (ON) or other ocular manifestation are included in this prospective longitudinal study. Each patient received a comprehensive eye examination. The following functional tests were performed: scotopic and photopic fullfield (ff) ERG according to ISCEV standards, photopic negative response (PhNR) of the flash ERG, photopic mfERG (61 and 103 hexagons), pattern-reversal VEP. Data were compared with age- matched normal controls.
Results :
Baseline examination data will be presented of patients recruited at the time of the meeting. So far, 24 patients (17 female, 7 male) ages 21 to 57 years were tested. 14/24 had a history of ON in one (10/14) or both (4/14) eyes. Abnormal responses were found: scotopic and photopic ffERG: 1/24, photopic ffERG: 6/24, reduced PhNR through 5/24, unilateral VEP 9/23, bilateral VEP 8/23, delayed mfERG responses 7/23.
Conclusions :
Patients with MS demonstrate retinal and optic nerve dysfunction related or unrelated to the history of NNO. Extended electrophysiological testing allows detailed functional assessment to possibly characterize distinct phenotypes of MS.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.