Exploring the Association between Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness and Initial Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in Patients with Acute Optic Neuritis

Abstract

Background. Recent studies have shown thatOCT-measured retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) values may representa marker for axonal damage in the anterior visual pathway of opticneuritis (ON) and multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The goal ofthis study was to determine the link between RNFL values andinitial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evidence of centralnervous system (CNS) inflammation in patients with acute ON.Methods. Fifty patients who experienced ON as aclinically isolated syndrome (CIS) were followed for a mean periodof 34 months with OCT testing. RNFL values in affected (ON) eyesand clinically unaffected (non-ON) eyes were compared betweenpatients with MRI evidence of white matter lesions and those withnormal baseline MRI findings, over a two year period.Findings. Twenty-one patients (42%) developedclinically definite MS (CDMS) during the study. After two years,temporal RNFL values were thinner (P=.07) in ON patients with MRI lesionsat baseline, but the results were not significant.Conclusions. There is no association between RNFLvalues and baseline MRI status in ON patients at risk for futureCDMS over a two year period.