Cognitive impairment in patients with multiple sclerosis is associated with atrophy of the inner retinal layers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Inner retinal layer (IRL) atrophy is a potential biomarker for neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objective

To investigate the relationship between cognitive impairment and IRL atrophy in MS.

Methods

Cross-sectional study design, including 217 patients and 59 healthy controls. Subjects were investigated clinically, underwent retinal optical coherence tomography (OCT) and comprehensive cognitive assessments. The association between these modalities was evaluated by regression analyses.

Results

Of the patients, 44.2% were cognitively impaired. In the absence of multiple sclerosis-associated optic neuritis (MSON), cognitively impaired patients had a significantly lower mean peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL, Δ: 8.13 µm, p < 0.001

SUBMITTER: Coric D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5987993 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature