Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Fischer, M. Dominik
• Synofzik, Matthis
• Kernstock, Christoph
• Dietzsch, Janko
• Heidlauf, Robert
• Schicks, Julia
• Srulijes, Karin
• Wiethoff, Sarah
• Menn, Oliver
• Berg, Daniela
• Schöls, Ludger
• Schiefer, Ulrich

Titel

Decreased retinal sensitivity and loss of retinal nerve fibers in multiple system atrophy

Ist Teil von

• Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology, 2013, Vol.251 (1), p.235-241

Ort / Verlag

Berlin/Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag

Erscheinungsjahr

2013

Link zum Volltext

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Background and aim In a previous study, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) loss was shown as part of the neurodegenerative process in multiple system atrophy (MSA). Here, we investigate in a larger cohort of MSA patients whether the RNFLT loss translates into respective visual field defects. Methods Spectral domain optical coherence tomography was performed in 20 MSA patients (parkinsonian subtype = 12, cerebellar subtype = 8) to quantify peripapillary RNFLT. Visual field (90°) was analyzed by automated static perimetry to investigate retinal structure/function relationship. Eight data sets did not meet stringent quality criteria, and only 12 data sets were further analyzed. Results Compared to healthy controls, MSA patients demonstrated a significant reduction of RNFLT in the nasal sectors ( p nasal-superior  = 0.02, p nasal  = 0.03, p nasal-inferior  < 0.01), while changes in temporal RNFLT measures ( p temporal-superior  = 0.42, p temporal  = 0.34, p temporal-inferior  = 0.25) were not statistically significant compared to healthy controls (ANOVA). MSA patients featured a significant global mean deviation (2.74 dB; p  < 0.01) without predominant peripheral visual field defects. Statistical analysis of mean defect in the central (0–30°), peripheral (30–90°) or global (0–90°) visual field revealed no significant correlation ( r 2 central  = 0.11, r 2 peripheral  = 0.04, r 2 global  = 0.07) with nasal RNFLT in MSA patients. Conclusion MSA patients feature significant reduction in nasal RNFLT and global mean deviation when compared to healthy controls, consistent with the multi-systemic nature of this neurodegenerative disorder. This finding provides first evidence for two independent deteriorations of the visual system in MSA.