December 24, 2012 in Neuroscience Study found that faster thinning of retina was tied to more lesions.
(HealthDay)—In-office eye scans that assess the thinning of the retina may also help doctors determine how fast multiple sclerosis (MS) is progressing in patients with the nervous system disease, a new study suggests.
The study included 164 MS patients who underwent eye scans
every six months for an average of 21 months. The participants also had MRI
brain scans at the start of the study and yearly. Patients with MS relapses had
42 percent faster retinal thinning than those with no relapses, the study
found. Patients with inflammatory lesions called gadolinium-enhancing lesions
had 54 percent faster retinal thinning, and those with new T2 lesions had 36
percent faster thinning, compared to patients who did not have evidence of such
lesions on their MRI brain scans, the investigators found. In addition,
patients whose disability levels worsened during the study period had 37 percent
more retinal thinning than those who had no changes in their disability levels.
And compared with patients who had the disease for more than five years, those
who had MS for less than five years had 43 percent faster retinal thinning, the
study authors noted.
every six months for an average of 21 months. The participants also had MRI
brain scans at the start of the study and yearly. Patients with MS relapses had
42 percent faster retinal thinning than those with no relapses, the study
found. Patients with inflammatory lesions called gadolinium-enhancing lesions
had 54 percent faster retinal thinning, and those with new T2 lesions had 36
percent faster thinning, compared to patients who did not have evidence of such
lesions on their MRI brain scans, the investigators found. In addition,
patients whose disability levels worsened during the study period had 37 percent
more retinal thinning than those who had no changes in their disability levels.
And compared with patients who had the disease for more than five years, those
who had MS for less than five years had 43 percent faster retinal thinning, the
study authors noted.
The findings suggest that retinal thinning may occur faster
in patients with earlier and more active MS. The new report appears in the Jan.
1 online edition of the journal Neurology. It updates earlier results from this
study, published in the Archives of Neurology in October.
in patients with earlier and more active MS. The new report appears in the Jan.
1 online edition of the journal Neurology. It updates earlier results from this
study, published in the Archives of Neurology in October.
“As more therapies are developed to slow the
progression of MS, testing retinal thinning in the eyes may be helpful in
evaluating how effective those therapies are,” study author Dr. Peter
Calabresi, of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said in a
journal news release. Other experts not connected to the study agreed.
“This study reports an important link between the inflammatory and
neurodegenerative aspects of MS that should lead to a better understanding of
the underlying mechanisms of tissue damage,” said Dr. Fred Lublin,
director of the Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis at
the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in New York City.
progression of MS, testing retinal thinning in the eyes may be helpful in
evaluating how effective those therapies are,” study author Dr. Peter
Calabresi, of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said in a
journal news release. Other experts not connected to the study agreed.
“This study reports an important link between the inflammatory and
neurodegenerative aspects of MS that should lead to a better understanding of
the underlying mechanisms of tissue damage,” said Dr. Fred Lublin,
director of the Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis at
the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in New York City.
He added that, “The techniques described may add to our
ability to better perform studies of neuroprotective agents in MS.” And
Dr. Floyd Warren, chief of neuro-ophthalmology at Lenox Hill Hospital, in New
York City, called the study “very intriguing.” He stressed, however,
that the study was preliminary and “looked primarily at relapsing
remitting MS; the progressive forms and clinically isolated syndrome patients
were much fewer in number.”
ability to better perform studies of neuroprotective agents in MS.” And
Dr. Floyd Warren, chief of neuro-ophthalmology at Lenox Hill Hospital, in New
York City, called the study “very intriguing.” He stressed, however,
that the study was preliminary and “looked primarily at relapsing
remitting MS; the progressive forms and clinically isolated syndrome patients
were much fewer in number.”
Read more at: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-12-eye-scan-track-multiple-sclerosis.html#jCp
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