Retinal nerve fibre layer measurements and optic nerve head analysis in multiple sclerosis patients.
OBJECTIVE
To verify whether scanning laser polarimeter with the new variable corneal compensation algorithm (GDx VCC) and scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT)) allow measuring retinal ganglion cell loss in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).


METHODS
We enrolled 23 MS patients with a history of previous demyelinating monocular optic neuritis. Examination included visual evoked potentials (VEPs), scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, and scanning laser polarimeter. HRT was performed to assess optic nerve head (ONH) shape, while GDx VCC was used to evaluate the retinal nerve fibre layer thickness (RNFLt) around the ONH. Statistical analysis was performed comparing results obtained for each eye with the available normative database and with the unaffected fellow eye.


RESULTS
When the affected eye group was compared to the fellow-eye group, a significant (P<0.05) difference was found for few GDx VCC parameters. In contrast, no significant correlation was observed between clinical assessment and imaging techniques when the normal database of HRT and GDx VCC was used. A significant association was observed between VEP latency and some GDx VCC parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggested that scanning laser polarimetry could detect loss of ganglion cells following demyelinating optic neuritis, but further studies are needed.
Iester
M
M
Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology and Genetics, University of Genoa, Italy. iester@unige.it
Cioli
F
F
Uccelli
A
A
Papadia
M
M
Bandini
F
F
Mancardi
G L
GL
Calabria
G A
GA
D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D016923:Cell Death; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy / Q000379:methods; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D057109:Scanning Laser Polarimetry / Q000379:methods; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted