MS optic neuritis-induced long-term structural changes within the visual pathway
Marc Pawlitzki, Marc Horbrügger, Kristian Loewe, Jörn Kaufmann, Roland Opfer, Markus Wagner, Khaldoon O. Al-Nosairy, Sven G. Meuth, Michael B. Hoffmann, Sven Schippling
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The visual pathway is commonly involved in multiple sclerosis (MS), even in its early stages, including clinical episodes of optic neuritis (ON). The long-term structural damage within the visual compartment in patients with ON, however, is yet to be elucidated. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to characterize visual system structure abnormalities using MRI along with optical coherence tomography (OCT) and pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials (VEPs) depending on a single history of ON. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with clinically definitive MS, either with a history of a single ON (HON) or without such history and normal VEP findings (NON), were included. OCT measures comprised OCT-derived peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and macular ganglion cell/inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness. Cortical and global gray and white matter, thalamic, and T2 lesion volumes were assessed using structural MRI. Diffusion-weighted MRI-derived measures included fractional anisotropy (FA), mean (MD), radial (RD), and axial (AD) diffusivity within the optic radiation (OR). RESULTS: = 0.004) were altered compared with NON. Global gray and white as well as other regional gray matter structures did not differ between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: A single history of ON induces long-term structural damage within the retina and OR suggestive of both retrograde and anterograde neuroaxonal degeneration.