Longitudinal study of retinal structure, vascular and neuronal function in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: 1-year follow-up

Abstract

Purpose : To quantify retinal structural, vascular, and functional changes in patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) over 1 year.

Methods : Eighty-eight eyes of 44 patients with RRMS underwent assessments of low contrast letter acuity (LCLA), retinal ganglion cell function detected by the steady-state Pattern Electroretinogram (PERG), axonal microstructural integrity measured as birefringence, intraretinal layer thicknesses by ultra-high resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT), volumetric vessel density (VVD) by OCT angiography, and retinal tissue perfusion (RTP) by the Retinal Function Imager (RFI). All measurements were performed at baseline and 1-year follow-up. The impacts of disease activities and a history of optical neuritis (ON) were analyzed.

Results : Compared to baseline, there were no significant differences in all variables (P > 0.05), except for the axonal birefringence and RFI measurements. The birefringence’s of retinal fiber layer at the temporal and superior quadrants was significantly decreased at follow-up (P < 0.05). The retinal blood flow and RTP were significantly increased at follow-up (P < 0.05). In the sub-group with ON, significantly longer PERG latency and decreased VVD in the retina were observed at follow-up (P < 0.05). In patients with improved LCLA, significantly increased RTP and decreased VVD (P < 0.05) were also observed.

Conclusions : This is the first longitudinal study that assessed the RTP and VVD, along with other retinal structural and functional parameters in MS. The recovery of retinal vascular function occurred with the improved LCLA, suggesting that these measurements may be associated with disease progression and therapeutic efficacy.

This is a 2021 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.