Multiple Sclerosis Research Repository

 “Retinal ganglion cell analysis in multiple sclerosis and optic neuritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis”: Britze J et al

-Puthenparampil et al. [5] found an inverse correlation between the thickness of the temporal RNFL and the ipsilateral optic radiation white matter lesion load (r = −0.7, p < 0.05) in patients with MSON.

-Furthermore, they observed an inverse correlation between the nasal RNFL and the contralateral optic radiation white matter lesion load (r = −0.8, p < 0.01 for both the superior and inferior nasal quadrant).

-One multicentre study [12] looked at 571 eyes of MS patients without prior ON and they observed a lower RNFL thickness in patients with secondary progressive MS (SPMS) compared to relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) (p = 0.007).

-Furthermore, total macular volume was reduced in SPMS and primary progressive MS (PPMS) eyes compared to RRMS eyes (SPMS: p = 0.039, PPMS: p = 0.005).

-Similarly, Costello et al. [13] found significantly lower RNFL thicknesses in eyes unaffected by prior ON, in patients with SPMS than with RRMS

-In a group of MS patients with and without prior ON, Saidha et al. [14] observed lower GCIPL and RNFL values in SPMS compared to RRMS. However, after correcting for disease duration this was only significant with regards to the GCIPL (p = 0.04).

-recent studies have observed correlations between GCIPL thickness and thalamus volume [31], normalized brain parenchymal volume [17], intracranial volume [22], cortical grey matter volume [22], and number and volume of cortical lesions [31].

-Martinez-Lapiscina et al. [39] observed that a baseline RNFL thickness in MS-NON eyes of ≤87 µm (Cirrus) or 88 µm (Spectralis) approximately doubled the risk of disability worsening during the 2nd and 3rd years. This increased by four times after 4–5 years of follow-up. 

-Bsteh et al. [40] observed that having a RNFL thickness below 88 μm was independently associated with a threefold increased risk of EDSS progression (p < 0.001) and a 2.7-fold increased risk of cognitive decline (p < 0.001) within the following 3 years.-A different study observed that MS patients with low GCIPL volumes had a 6.4-fold increased risk of disability worsening within the following three years [11].