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. 2020 Dec 8;15(12):e0243236.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243236. eCollection 2020.

Angiography with optical coherence tomography as a biomarker in multiple sclerosis

Beatriz Cordon  1   2 , Elisa Vilades  1   2 , Elvira Orduna  1   2 , María Satue  1   2 , Javier Perez-Velilla  1   2 , Berta Sebastian  3 , Vicente Polo  1   2   4 , Jose Manuel Larrosa  1   2   4 , Luis Emilio Pablo  1   2   4 , Elena Garcia-Martin  1   2   4
Affiliations

Angiography with optical coherence tomography as a biomarker in multiple sclerosis

Beatriz Cordon et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate superficial retinal microvascular plexuses detected by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) in multiple sclerosis (MS) subjects and compare them with healthy controls.

Methods: A total of 92 eyes from 92 patients with relapsing-remitting MS and 149 control eyes were included in this prospective observational study. OCT-A imaging was performed using Triton Swept-Source OCT (Topcon Corporation, Japan). The vessel density (VD) percentage in the superficial retinal plexus and optic disc area (6 x 6 mm grid) was measured and compared between groups.

Results: MS patients showed a significant decrease VD in the superior (p = 0.005), nasal (p = 0.029) and inferior (p = 0.040) parafoveal retina compared with healthy subjects. Patients with disease durations of more than 5 years presented lower VD in the superior (p = 0.002), nasal (p = 0.017) and inferior (p = 0.022) parafoveal areas compared with healthy subjects. Patients with past optic neuritis episodes did not show retinal microvasculature alterations, but patients with an EDSS score of less than 3 showed a significant decrease in nasal (p = 0.024) and superior (p = 0.006) perifoveal VD when compared with healthy subjects.

Conclusions: MS produces a decrease in retinal vascularization density in the superficial plexus of the parafoveal retina. Alterations in retinal vascularization observed in MS patients are independent of the presence of optic nerve inflammation. OCT-A has the ability to detect subclinical vascular changes and is a potential biomarker for diagnosing the presence and progression of MS.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Image of angiography optical coherence tomography measured in 6x6mm area in superficial vascular plexus with gird centered in macula.
Left image shows a B-scan with orange lines limiting analyzed zone. Right image shows density map with gird divided in five areas; central, nasal, interior, temporal and superior with number of percentages of vessel density.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Scatterplot graphic of vascular density and age in control group and MS group.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Graphic of percentage of superficial plexus macular in both groups.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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