Is optical coherence tomography really a new biomarker candidate in multiple sclerosis?--A structural and functional evaluation.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the structural and functional status of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) without a history of optic neuritis.


METHODS
Thirty-nine patients with MS who had reported no visual symptoms before and after the time of MS diagnosis were included. Thirty-eight healthy subjects were included as a control group. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness was determined by optical coherence tomography. Pattern visual evoked potentials (PVEP), full-field electroretinogram (ERG), and multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) were performed.


RESULTS
There was a significant reduction (P = 0.011) only in temporal RNFL thickness in patients with MS. P(100) latency was significantly delayed with both 60-min arc checks (P < 0.001) and 15-min arc checks (P < 0.001); however, P(100) amplitude was significantly reduced only in 60-min arc checks (P = 0.026). Rod response b-wave implicit time and standard combined response a- and b-wave implicit times were significantly delayed in patients with MS. Patients with MS with a delayed P(100) latency (21/39; 53.8%) had significantly reduced cone response b-wave amplitude and significantly delayed cone response a- and b-wave implicit times in ERG. mfERG results did not differ between MS and control subjects and between patients with a delayed and a normal P(100) latency. Pearson correlations between RNFL thickness and P(100) amplitude and latency in patients with MS were not significant (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
There is no correlation between RNFL thickness and P(100) response in patients with MS. PVEP seems to be a more reliable biomarker in determining visual pathway involvement in patients with no history of optic neuritis.
Department of Ophthalmology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey. fgundogan@yahoo.com
Fatih C
FC
Gundogan
Seref
S
Demirkaya
Gungor
G
Sobaci
D000328:Adult; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D004596:Electroretinography; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012160:Retina / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology*