title: Comparison of retinal nerve fibre layer thickness with visual evoked potential and visual field in patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate retinal nerve fibre layer thickness and to compare results with visual evoked potentials and visual field in patients with multiple sclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, case-control study, university hospital setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-three eyes of 37 multiple sclerosis patients and 74 eyes of 37 healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients underwent a complete neurological and ophthalmological examination and peri-papillary retinal nerve fibre layer thickness was evaluated using scanning laser polarimetry (GDx). Furthermore, visual evoked potential and visual field testing were performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The χ(2) test, Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test and Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis of the GDx, visual evoked potential and visual field testing parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GDx measurements showed significantly more retinal nerve fibre layer damage in the patients than in the control groups. Comparison of the GDx parameters between patients with optic neuritis and non-optic neuritis demonstrated a statistically significant difference in symmetry (P = 0.046) and superior/nasal parameters (P = 0.009). A correlation was found between the number, superior and inferior ratio parameters, and P100 amplitude obtained with visual evoked potential in patients with non-optic neuritis. Additionally, there was a correlation between the number, inferior ratio and superior/nasal parameters, and the mean deviation of visual field in the non-optic neuritis group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For retinal nerve fibre layer thickness measurements in multiple sclerosis patients, the GDx, along with other techniques, such as visual evoked potential, can be used as a diagnostic and follow-up criterion, particularly in patients without optic neuritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the School of Medicine, Zonguldak Karaelmas University, Zonguldak, Turkey. atillaalpay@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Atilla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alpay
authors.forename: Tuncer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Guney
authors.forename: Aysun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Unal
authors.forename: Suat H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ugurbas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D057109:Scanning Laser Polarimetry; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult