Austrian scientists have suggested that the thickness of the retinal layer could be a biomarker in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
- Multiple sclerosis leads to lesions, which induce motor, sensory, cognitive, sphincter or even visual disturbances.
- Austrian researchers recently revealed that a measurement of the thickness of the retinal layer could help in the early diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
- Scientists used optical coherence tomography to measure the thickness of the retinal layer in patients with multiple sclerosis.
An autoimmune disease, multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by a dysfunction of the immune system, which causes lesions, responsible for motor, sensory, cognitive, sphincter or even visual disturbances. In the vast majority of cases, patients feel these lesions late, and the pathology is diagnosed at an advanced stage.
Measuring retinal layer thickness could improve MS diagnosis
In a recent study, researchers from the Department of Neurology at MedUni Vienna and the University Hospital of Vienna (Austria) observed that measuring the thickness of the retinal layers of the eye could improve the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis . The results of their work have been published in the journal Neurology.
For the purposes of this research, the scientists examined 267 patients affected by multiple sclerosis over a period of five years. In order to measure the thickness of the volunteers’ retinal layer, they used a technique called optical coherence tomography (OCT). This imaging method allows the generation of high-resolution three-dimensional images of extremely thin tissue layers, measuring only a few micrometers.
“This means that we can put in place therapeutic measures earlier”
OCT is used in particular for screening and monitoring eye diseases such as glaucoma. “So we already have this procedure (…) If we use optical coherence tomography in addition to the current diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis, we get significantly more accurate results at an earlier stage. This means we can implement therapeutic measures earlier, which significantly improves the long-term prognosis for patients”noted Professor Gabriel Bsteh, lead author of the study and a neurologist at Vienna University Hospital.
The thickness of the retinal layer could therefore be a diagnostic biomarker for multiple sclerosis. In the next phases of research, study leaders will focus on the thickness of the retinal layer, to assess responses to treatment of autoimmune disease.
