@article {809, title = {In vivo identification of morphologic retinal abnormalities in neuromyelitis optica.}, journal = {Neurology}, volume = {80}, year = {2013}, month = {2013 Apr 9}, pages = {1406-14}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: To assess eyes with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) for morphologic retinal abnormalities utilizing high-definition optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging.

METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 39 patients with NMO spectrum disorders and 39 age- and sex-matched healthy controls underwent spectral-domain OCT and visual function testing.

RESULTS: Microcystic macular edema (MME) of the inner nuclear layer (INL) was identified in 10 of 39 patients (26\%) and was exclusively found in eyes with a history of optic neuritis (ON). MME eyes had lower high- and low-contrast letter-acuity scores (100\%: p = 0.002; 2.5\%: p = 0.002; 1.25\%: p = 0.004), lower peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness (p = 0.04), lower macular RNFL thickness (p = 0.004), lower ganglion cell layer + inner plexiform layer (GCIP) thickness (p = 0.007), higher INL thickness (p < 0.001), and a greater number of ON episodes (p = 0.008) relative to non-MME eyes with a history of ON. After adjusting for history of multiple ON episodes, these findings remained significant for macular-RNFL thickness (p = 0.03), INL thickness (p < 0.001), and 100\% and 2.5\% contrast letter-acuity scores (p = 0.008 and p = 0.03, respectively). NMO spectrum eyes without ON history had lower macular RNFL thickness (p = 0.003), GCIP thickness (p = 0.002), outer nuclear layer thickness (p = 0.02), and low-contrast letter-acuity scores (2.5\%: p = 0.03; 1.25\%: p = 0.002) compared to healthy controls.

CONCLUSIONS: We have identified a pattern of retinal morphologic abnormalities in NMO that is associated with severe retinal axonal and neuronal loss and corresponding visual disability. MME may contribute to poor visual outcomes following NMO-associated ON or alternatively represent a marker of ON severity. Additionally, our results support that subclinical involvement of the anterior visual pathway may occur in NMO spectrum disorders.

}, keywords = {Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aquaporin 4, Autoantibodies, Case-Control Studies, Chi-Square Distribution, Female, Humans, Macular Edema, Male, Middle Aged, Nerve Fibers, Neuromyelitis Optica, Retina, Tomography, Optical Coherence, Vision Tests, Visual Acuity, Young Adult}, issn = {1526-632X}, doi = {10.1212/WNL.0b013e31828c2f7a}, author = {Sotirchos, Elias S and Saidha, Shiv and Byraiah, Gita and Mealy, Maureen A and Ibrahim, Mohamed A and Sepah, Yasir Jamal and Newsome, Scott D and Ratchford, John N and Frohman, Elliot M and Balcer, Laura J and Crainiceanu, Ciprian M and Nguyen, Quan Dong and Levy, Michael and Calabresi, Peter A} }