Using Optical Coherence Tomography to Study Multiple Sclerosis
Author Information
Author(s): Serbecic Nermin, Aboul-Enein Fahmy, Beutelspacher Sven C., Vass Clemens, Kristoferitsch Wolfgang, Lassmann Hans, Reitner Andreas, Schmidt-Erfurth Ursula
Primary Institution: Medical University of Vienna
Hypothesis
Can optical coherence tomography (OCT) reliably measure retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) changes in multiple sclerosis patients over time?
Conclusion
The study found no significant changes in RNFL measurements over a two-year period in multiple sclerosis patients, suggesting caution in using OCT for monitoring disease activity.
Supporting Evidence
- Patients were studied over a median interval of 22.4 months.
- Initial RNFL measurements showed a wide range from normal to reduced thickness.
- Despite high disease activity, no significant RNFL changes were detected.
Takeaway
Doctors used a special eye scan to see if the thickness of a part of the eye changed in people with multiple sclerosis over two years, but they found it didn't change much at all.
Methodology
The study involved 37 MS patients who were examined twice over a median interval of 22.4 months using high resolution spectral domain OCT.
Limitations
The study's findings may not be generalizable due to the small sample size and specific patient characteristics.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 27 with relapsing-remitting MS and 10 with secondary progressive MS.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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