Changes in peripapillary choroidal thickness in patients with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Purpose: To study peripapillary choroidal thickness (PPCT) around the optic disc and establish zones using a new swept source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) device. To evaluate PPCT differences between patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and age-and sex-matched healthy controls. Methods: A total of 102 healthy subjects and 51 patients with MS were consecutively recruited. Healthy subjects were divided into teaching (n = 51, used to establish choroidal zones) and validating (n = 51, used to compare measurements with MS patients) populations. An optic disc 6.0 3 6.0-mm three-dimensional scan was obtained using SS-OCT Triton. A 26 3 26 cube-grid centred on the optic disc was generated automatically to measure PPCT. Four choroidal zones were established and used to compare PPCT between healthy controls and patients with MS. Results: Peripapillary choroidal thickness (PPCT) was significantly thinner in patients in all concentric zones (p ≤ 0.0001): 134.02 AE 16.59 lm in MS group versus 171.56 AE 12.43 lm in the control group in zone 2; 182.23 AE 20.52 versus 219.03 AE 17.99 lm, respectively, in zone 3; and 223.52 AE 10.70 versus 259.99 AE 10.29 lm, respectively, in zone 4. The choroidal thinning in the MS group tended to decrease as we distanced from the optic nerve head. Peripapillary choroidal thickness (PPCT) had a similar pattern in controls and MS; it was thicker in the superior region, followed by temporal, nasal and inferior regions. Conclusion: Patients with MS showed peripapillary choroidal thinning when compared with healthy subjects in all zones around the optic disc. Peripapillary choroidal tissue shows a concentric pattern, increasing in thickness when increasing the distance from the optic nerve. The new SS-OCT could be useful for evaluating choroidal thinning in clinical practice.

Optical coherence tomography angiography in multiple sclerosis: A cross-sectional study

“…A reduction of ganglion cell number contributes to the reduction of retinal volume correlating with the superficial and deep capillary layers. Our results regarding choroidal thickness confirmed the results of Esen et al and Garcia-Martin et al [39,40], which suggest a potential role for vascular dysregulation in the pathophysiology of MS. We suggest that a reduction of GCC and, consequently, of the retinal tissue, implies a loss of vascularization at this level. We propose that the reduction of retinal tissue, including the loss of GCC and RNFL found by SD-OCT, leads to hypoxia.…”

Angiography with optical coherence tomography as a biomarker in multiple sclerosis

“…With this technique, the visual pathway is recognized as a model for correlating retinal neurodegeneration and disability in MS and some authors have demonstrated its potential as an early diagnostic tool [7]. In addition, the latest OCT software provides measurements of each retinal layer and even measurements of the choroidal plexus, which seems to provide more accurate measurements of axonal damage and ischemic processes [8][9][10].…”

Choroidal Thickness Profile in Chorioretinal Diseases: Beyond the Macula

“…Satue et al ( 105 ) also showed that both macular and peripapillary CT were higher in patients with Parkinson's disease than in healthy controls. Garcia-Martin et al ( 106 ) reported that peripapillary CT was lower in patients with multiple sclerosis than in age- and sex-matched controls. Macias et al ( 107 ) studied the choroidal changes in astronauts with space-flight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome and found that peripapillary choroid thickening, along with disc edema, developed gradually during spaceflight and persisted for up to 30 days after the mission.…”

“…This close relationship highlights the optic nerve, and meaningful quantitative alterations in retinal thickness and volume have been demonstrated in patients with cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative diseases ( 19 , 112 ). In addition, a growing number of studies have analyzed peripapillary CT in neurologic diseases ( 101 – 106 ). Andrade et al ( 101 ) demonstrated that macular CT was significantly reduced in patients with Huntington's disease compared to that in controls.…”