Retinal nerve fibre layer thickness correlates with brain white matter damage in multiple sclerosis: a combined optical coherence tomography and diffusion tensor imaging study

Mult Scler. 2014 Dec;20(14):1904-7. doi: 10.1177/1352458514535128. Epub 2014 May 19.

Abstract

We investigated the association of retinal nerve fibre layer thickness (RNFL) with white matter damage assessed by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Forty-four MS patients and 30 healthy subjects underwent optical coherence tomography. DTI was analysed with a voxel-based whole brain and region-based analysis of optic radiation, corpus callosum and further white matter. Correlations between RNFL, fractional anisotropy (FA) and other DTI-based parameters were assessed in patients and controls. RNFL correlated with optic radiation FA, but also with corpus callosum and remaining white matter FA. Our findings demonstrate that RNFL changes indicate white matter damage exceeding the visual pathway.

Keywords: Multiple sclerosis; diffusion tensor imaging; optic nerve; optic radiation; optical coherence tomography; retina.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain / pathology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Diffusion Tensor Imaging
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis / complications
  • Multiple Sclerosis / pathology*
  • Nerve Fibers / pathology*
  • Optic Nerve / pathology*
  • Optic Neuritis / complications
  • Optic Neuritis / pathology*
  • Organ Size
  • Retina / pathology*
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence
  • White Matter / pathology*