Angiography with optical coherence tomography as a biomarker in multiple sclerosis

Cordon, B. ; Vilades, E. ; Orduna, E. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Satue, M. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Perez-Velilla, J. ; Sebastian, B. ; Polo, V. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Larrosa, J.M. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Pablo, L.E. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Garcia-Martin, E. (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: Purpose
To investigate superficial retinal microvascular plexuses detected by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) in multiple sclerosis (MS) subjects and compare them with healthy controls.
Methods
A total of 92 eyes from 92 patients with relapsing-remitting MS and 149 control eyes were included in this prospective observational study. OCT-A imaging was performed using Triton Swept-Source OCT (Topcon Corporation, Japan). The vessel density (VD) percentage in the superficial retinal plexus and optic disc area (6 x 6 mm grid) was measured and compared between groups.
Results
MS patients showed a significant decrease VD in the superior (p = 0.005), nasal (p = 0.029) and inferior (p = 0.040) parafoveal retina compared with healthy subjects. Patients with disease durations of more than 5 years presented lower VD in the superior (p = 0.002), nasal (p = 0.017) and inferior (p = 0.022) parafoveal areas compared with healthy subjects. Patients with past optic neuritis episodes did not show retinal microvasculature alterations, but patients with an EDSS score of less than 3 showed a significant decrease in nasal (p = 0.024) and superior (p = 0.006) perifoveal VD when compared with healthy subjects.
Conclusions
MS produces a decrease in retinal vascularization density in the superficial plexus of the parafoveal retina. Alterations in retinal vascularization observed in MS patients are independent of the presence of optic nerve inflammation. OCT-A has the ability to detect subclinical vascular changes and is a potential biomarker for diagnosing the presence and progression of MS.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243236

Año: 2020

Publicado en: PloS one 15, 12 December (2020), e0243236[15 pp]
ISSN: 1932-6203

Factor impacto JCR: 3.24 (2020)

Categ. JCR: MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCES rank: 26 / 73 = 0.356 (2020) - Q2 - T2

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.99 - Multidisciplinary (Q1)

Tipo y forma: Artículo (Versión definitiva)

Área (Departamento): Área Oftalmología (Dpto. Cirugía)
Área (Departamento): Área Óptica (Dpto. Física Aplicada)