Retinal neuroaxonal degeneration in NMOSD vs. MS and unaffected controls: A systematic review and meta-analysis of OCT biomarkers.

What was studied

This review compared retinal nerve damage in NMOSD, MS and healthy people. NMOSD is neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. It is an autoimmune disease with optic neuritis and myelitis. In diagnosis, it is often mistaken for multiple sclerosis (MS). Optical coherence tomography, or OCT, scans the retina without surgery. The team checked bias and publication bias.

What they found

Many retinal layers were thinner in NMOSD than in healthy people. The peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer, or pRNFL, was thinner (WMD = -17.73). The ganglion cell and inner plexiform layer was thinner (WMD = -14.03). Compared with MS, NMOSD had a thinner pRNFL (WMD = -11.68). Its ganglion cell and inner plexiform layer was thinner too (WMD = -4.22). Macular volume was lower than in both groups (WMD = -0.32). The outer plexiform and photoreceptor layers showed no significant change. The inner nuclear layer did not differ.

What it means for patients

The authors say OCT is a validated imaging marker of retinal nerve damage in NMOSD. They say it can help tell NMOSD from MS. They say it can also help judge outlook and track treatment.

Why it is not certain yet

The studies were observational. They show differences, not cause. One result against MS had a p-value of 0.048. The abstract does not say how much the studies differed. It does not say how many patients were in each group. It does not give the results of the bias checks.

Source

Retinal neuroaxonal degeneration in NMOSD vs. MS and unaffected controls: A systematic review and meta-analysis of OCT biomarkers.

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