Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Evaluation Of Peripapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer In Multiple Sclerosis, Clinically Isolated Syndrome And Control Patients

Purpose:To evaluate peripapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer (RNFL) thickness in Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS) and control population, using Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SDOCT) Methods:Sixty patients (100 eyes) affected by SM or CIS were enrolled. Control group included 26 patients (52 eyes) with no ophthalmological and/or neurological diseases, age- and sex-matched. All patients underwent peripapillary RNFL thickness measurement by SDOCT (RT-vue 100, Optovue, Freemont, California), Optic Nerve Head (ONH) protocol. Mean and subflied RNFL thickness were evaluated. Optic neuritis ON/OFF subgroups in CIS patients were investigated. Statistical analysis was performed using t-Student test Results:No statistically significant differences were found among SM, CIS and control population in mean RNFL thickness. No differences were found in subfield analysis. In optic neuritis ON/OFF subgroups, pathological results were noted in 18.18% and 9.83%, respectively Conclusions:Mean RNFL thickness does not differ significantly among SM, CIS and control patients. Pathological RFNL thinning in optic neuritis OFF patients is an interesting finding. This fact could be referable to an early atrophic change in peripapillary RNFL thickness in CIS patient without optic neuritis. Further studies are advisable