Retinal neuroaxonal degeneration in NMOSD vs. MS and unaffected controls: A systematic review and meta-analysis of OCT biomarkers.
Bojun Wang, Jiayue Liu, Huiyuan Zhang et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated optical coherence tomography (OCT) biomarkers in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) compared to multiple sclerosis (MS) and unaffected controls. The analysis included 55 studies and found that NMOSD patients exhibited significantly thinner retinal layers, including a peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness reduction of -17.73 μm (p < 0.001) compared to controls, indicating distinct retinal neuroaxonal degeneration.
Key findings
- NMOSD patients had a pRNFL thickness reduction of -17.73 μm compared to controls (p < 0.001).
- Compared to MS, NMOSD showed a thinner pRNFL by -11.68 μm (p < 0.001).
- Macular volume in NMOSD was reduced by -0.32 mm³ compared to both controls and MS (p < 0.001).
- Significant thinning was observed in multiple retinal layers, including GCIPL with a reduction of -4.22 μm (p < 0.001).
Why it matters
The findings underscore the utility of OCT as a noninvasive tool for differentiating NMOSD from MS, which is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management of these conditions. Enhanced understanding of retinal changes may inform prognosis and treatment strategies.