title: Progressive degeneration of the retinal nerve fiber layer in patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To quantify changes in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) over 3 years and to evaluate whether treatment protects against RNFL degeneration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-four MS patients and 50 healthy subjects were followed-up over 3 years. All subjects underwent a complete ophthalmic examination, which included assessment of visual acuity (Snellen chart), color vision (Ishihara pseudoisochromatic plates), visual field examination, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and visual evoked potentials (VEPs). All patients were reevaluated at 12, 24, and 36 months to quantify changes in the RNFL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Changes were detected in RNFL thickness at the 36-month follow-up. Significant decreases (P < 0.05, t-test) were observed in the mean, superior, inferior, and temporal RNFL thicknesses, and macular volume provided by OCT, and in the P100 latency of VEP of the MS group, but only in the mean and inferior RNFL thicknesses of the healthy control group. Greater changes in the superior and inferior RNFL thicknesses during follow-up were detected in the MS group. Differences between treatments were not detected, but untreated patients had higher degeneration in the mean and superior RNFL thicknesses during the follow-up (P = 0.040 and P = 0.19, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Progressive axonal loss can be detected in the optic nerve fiber layer of MS patients. Analysis of the RNFL by OCT can be useful for evaluating MS progression and efficacy of treatment as a neuroprotective factor against axonal degeneration.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, Miguel Servet University Hospital, Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Herrero
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garcia-Martin
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Almarcegui
authors.forename: Jose R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ara
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Mena
authors.forename: Jesus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Otin
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Satue
authors.forename: Luis E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Pablo
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Fernandez
mesh_terms: D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology