title: Evaluation of the Innermost Retinal Layers and Visual Evoked Potentials in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis.
abstract: The present study was conducted to investigate alterations in the innermost layers of the retina using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and to assess potential associations of structural measures with functional markers in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
  
  
  
  Ninety-four eyes of 47 MS patients and 60 eyes of 30 healthy individuals were included in the study. All patients underwent complete ophthalmological examination and OCT imaging to analyze peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness. Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score were assessed for MS patients.
  
  
  
  The average RNFL and GCIPL thicknesses were thinner in MS patients (86.2 ± 11.9 µm and 73.6 ± 9.7 µm, respectively) when compared with those of healthy controls (96.7 ± 8.2 µm and 85.9 ± 4.6 µm, respectively, p < 0.001 for both). Within MS patients, the average RNFL and GCIPL thicknesses were lower in eyes with a prior history of optic neuritis (MS ON) than in eyes with no optic neuritis history (MS non-ON) (p = 0.012 and p < 0.001, respectively). RNFL and GCIPL thicknesses were inversely correlated with VEP latency (r = -0.40, p < 0.001 and r = -0.36, p < 0.001, respectively) in MS patient eyes. There was a correlation between GCIPL thickness and VEP amplitude in eyes with previous ON history (r = 0.34, p = 0.035). No significant correlations were found between OCT measurements and EDSS score.
  
  
  
  Innermost layers of the retina are highly affected by the pathophysiologic process in MS disease, manifesting as a reduction in RNFL and GCIPL thickness. The structural retinal changes show correlation with alterations in potentials showing the optic pathway function.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine , Cukurova University , Adana , Turkey.
authors.forename: Ebru
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Esen
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine , Cukurova University , Adana , Turkey.
authors.forename: Selcuk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sizmaz
authors.affiliation: b Department of Neurology, School of Medicine , Cukurova University , Adana , Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balal
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine , Cukurova University , Adana , Turkey.
authors.forename: Kemal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yar
authors.affiliation: b Department of Neurology, School of Medicine , Cukurova University , Adana , Turkey.
authors.forename: Meltem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Demirkiran
authors.affiliation: c Department of Biostatistics, School of Medicine , Cukurova University , Adana , Turkey.
authors.forename: Ilker
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Unal
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine , Cukurova University , Adana , Turkey.
authors.forename: Nihal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Demircan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods; D014792:Visual Acuity; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness; multiple sclerosis; optical coherence tomography; retinal nerve fiber layer thickness; visual evoked potentials