Analysis of optical coherence tomography in early stage of optic neuritis in multiple sclerosis patients

Abstract

To detect the changes in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell complex (GCC) in the eyes of multiple sclerosis patients during the early stage of optic neuritis. A prospective case series study. Suspected acute optic neuritis of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who attended the department of ophthalmology in Peking Union Medical College hospital from Feb. 2007 to Nov. 2010 were collected. Twenty two MS patients were evaluated within the first week of the attack of acute optic neuritis. The average thickness of RNFL and GCC was measured and a three dimensional image of optic disk was reconstructed using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Within the first week of onset, the average thickness of RNFL and GCC of first attack eyes increased 75% and 64%, respectively. The average thickness of RNFL and GCC in relapsed eyes decreased 91.7% and 62.5% respectively. The average thickness of RNFL and GCC of the fellow eyes also increased 60% and 43% respectively, within the first week of onset. More cases of optic disk edema and thickening of RNFL were found by OCT than by direct ophthalmoscopy. Different changes of the thickness of RNFL and GCC and morphology of the optic disk were detected during the early stage of the initial attack or relapsed optic neuritis in MS patients. OCT could detect such differences.