Subclinical retinal atrophy in the unaffected fellow eyes of multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica

J Neuroimmunol. 2017 Dec 15:313:10-15. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2017.10.001. Epub 2017 Oct 3.

Abstract

We compared the retinal thickness in the unaffected eyes among the following subtypes of unilateral optic neuritis (ON): multiple sclerosis (MS-ON), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder with anti-AQP4 autoantibody (AQP4-ON), patients with serum anti-MOG antibody (MOG-ON), and idiopathic ON. In the chronic phase, macular GCC and circum-papillary RNFL in the unaffected eyes were both atrophied in MS-ON and AQP4-ON, but were not atrophied in the others. Titers of anti-AQP4-Ab was suggested to be associated with such latent neurodegenerative process in AQP4-ON. Long-term follow up of OCT is recommended even in the unaffected side in MS-ON and AQP4-ON.

Keywords: Multiple sclerosis; Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein; Neuromyelitis optica; Optic coherence tomography; Unaffected side.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Aquaporin 4 / immunology*
  • Atrophy / etiology
  • Autoantibodies / blood*
  • Eye / pathology*
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis / complications*
  • Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein / immunology
  • Neuromyelitis Optica / complications*
  • Retina / pathology*
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Aquaporin 4
  • Autoantibodies
  • Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein