Diagnostic ability of a new method for measuring haemoglobin levels in the optic nerve head in multiple sclerosis patients

Abstract

Aims To evaluate a new method for measuring haemoglobin (Hb) levels and quantifying the colour changes in the optic nerve head of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients to detect axonal loss and consequently optic disc atrophy. Material and methods 40 MS patients and 40 age and sex-matched healthy subjects were included in this prospective cross-sectional study and underwent a full ophthalmological examination, including three photographs of the optic disc. The Laguna ONhE ('optic nerve hemoglobin'; Insoft SL, Tenerife, Spain) software was used to obtain the Hb analysis in each of the 24 sectors and average Hb of optic disc photographs acquired. Reproducibility of measurements provided by Laguna ONhE program was analysed. Results MS patients showed significant reduction of optic disc Hb percentages in average Hb (58.99% in MS, 65.39% in healthy subjects; p<0.001) and in almost all analysed sectors with the largest differences in temporal sectors. Laguna ONhE program showed good reproducibility measuring Hb percentages in MS patients and healthy subjects. Conclusions Measurements of optic disc Hb levels obtained with Laguna ONhE software had good ability detecting optic atrophy and axonal loss in MS patients. This method had good reliability and is easy to implement in routine clinical practice.

Analysis of optic disk color changes in Alzheimer's disease: A potential new biomarker

“…Mean Hb percentage and Hb content in sectors 2, 3, 5, 6,8,9,12,15,18,20,21,23, and 24 (which correspond to the outer ring of papilla as Fig. 1B shows) calculated by the Laguna ONhE program were significantly lower in the AD group than in the healthy control group (T-test, P's < 0.05; Table 2).…”

“…Use of Laguna ONhE for early diagnosis of glaucomatous optic neuropathy has demonstrated high precision and reproducibility compared with the classic functional and structural tests used in glaucoma [8]. This new technology is easy to implement in routine clinical practice because it requires only a good photograph of the optic nerve head, and it has also proved useful for analyzing axonal loss in neuro-ophthalmologic patients, such as those with multiple sclerosis (MS) [9] or Parkinson's disease [10].…”

Glaucoma diagnostic capacity of optic nerve head haemoglobin measures compared with spectral domain OCT and HRT III confocal tomography

“…In multiple sclerosis, reduced perfusion is most frequently observed in the temporal rim (Bambo et al. ). In turn, the colour of the papilla is determined by the amount of Hb present relative to that observed on the constant white background provided by myelin.…”

Preliminary Study of the Differences in Optic Nerve Head Hemoglobin Measures Between Patients With and Without Childhood Glaucoma

“…The use of the Laguna ONhE software has also been applied in other pathologies such as sleep apnea 23,24 and multiple sclerosis. 25 In patients with childhood glaucoma, the mechanical theory seems to be the main mechanism of glaucomatous damage. These characteristic features of childhood glaucoma differ from glaucomatous damage in adults and should be considered when analyzing Laguna ONhE results.…”