Evaluating optic nerve diameter as a possible biomarker for disability in patients with multiple sclerosis

• Published in: Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment Vol. 15; pp. 2571 - 2578
• Main Authors: Koraysha, Noha Abo, Kishk, Nirmeen, Hassan, Amr, Samy El Gendy, Nehal M, Shehata, Hatem S, Al-Azayem, Salsabil Abo, Kamal, Yasmine Shawki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Zealand Dove Medical Press Limited 01.01.2019; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Dove; Dove Medical Press
• Subjects: Biological markers; biomarker; Biomarkers; Care and treatment; Development and progression; Diagnostic imaging; Disabilities; Fingolimod; Ganglion cysts; Hospitals; Medical research; Multiple sclerosis; Neuritis; OCT; Optic nerve; Optic neuritis; Original Research; Patients; Recurrence (Disease); RNFL; Statistical analysis; Tomography; transorbital sonography; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasound imaging; Egypt; United States > US; OCT; RNFL; biomarker; transorbital sonography; multiple sclerosis
• ISSN: 1176-6328; 1178-2021; 1178-2021
• DOI: 10.2147/NDT.S216079

The development of new biomarkers for multiple sclerosis (MS) is of paramount importance to improve our ability to predict disease progression and disability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential role of the optic nerve diameter (OND) measured by ultrasonography as a biomarker of early disability in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Forty-nine RRMS patients, 23 with a history of optic neuritis (MS-ON) and 26 without a history of optic neuritis (MS N-ON), and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects were included in the study. The OND and optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) were measured by transorbital sonography (TOS), and the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell complex (GCC) thicknesses were measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) using the Optovue RTVue™ system (Optovue, Inc., Fremont, CA, USA). There was no significant difference between the patient (whether ON or N-ON eyes) and control groups in either the OND ( =0.979) or the ONSD ( =0.911). However, patients with an expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score >2 had a significantly lower OND and RNFL thicknesses ( =0.014, =0.010 respectively) than patients with an EDSS score ≤2. Statistical logistic regression revealed that OND was an independent predictor of EDSS>2 ( =0.044, OR =0.000, 95% CI=0.000-0.589). The OND, as measured by ultrasonography, could be potentially used as a biomarker for the detection of early disability in RRMS patients.