title: Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in benign multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness has been linked to brain atrophy in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, little is known about retinal atrophy in 'benign' MS. We compared RNFL thickness in benign MS with healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with benign MS (Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) ≤ 3; ≥15 years' disease duration), identified through the British Columbia MS database, along with age-matched healthy controls, were recruited. RNFL thickness was measured using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare groups. The association between RNFL thickness and MS patient characteristics was examined via linear mixed-effects models (adjusting for within-patient inter-eye correlations and history of optic neuritis (ON), where appropriate).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 29 benign MS patients and 29 healthy controls were included, totaling 116 eyes. RNFL thickness was lowest for the benign MS eyes, with and then without a history of ON, followed by healthy controls (mean=73.2 µm, SD ± 0.4; 89.9 µm, SD ± 12.5; 96.7 µm, SD ± 10.4; p<0.02). RNFL thickness was associated with a history of ON (p<0.0001), but not EDSS or disease duration (p>0.1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RNFL thickness was lower in patients with benign MS than healthy controls, regardless of the previous history of ON. However, no association was found between RNFL values and disability or MS disease duration.
authors: Neuro-Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology, University of British Columbia, Canada.
authors: Alex P
authors: AP
authors: Lange
authors: Feng
authors: F
authors: Zhu
authors: Ana-Luiza
authors: AL
authors: Sayao
authors: Reza
authors: R
authors: Sadjadi
authors: Samir
authors: S
authors: Alkabie
authors: Anthony L
authors: AL
authors: Traboulsee
authors: Fiona
authors: F
authors: Costello
authors: Helen
authors: H
authors: Tremlett
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001284:Atrophy / Q000473:pathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology*; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Spectral domain optical coherence tomography; retinal nerve