Retinal nerve fiber layer evaluation by optical coherence tomography in Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To study retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness by optical coherence tomography (StratusOCT) in patients with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON).

DESIGN:

Cross-sectional study.

PARTICIPANTS AND/OR CONTROLS:

Thirty-eight patients with LHON were analyzed and compared with an age-matched control group of 75 patients. Patients with LHON were classified as having early LHON (E-LHON, n = 8) when the duration of the disease was shorter than 6 months and atrophic LHON (A-LHON, n = 30) when the duration was longer than 6 months.

METHODS:

The fast RNFL thickness (3.4) scan acquisition protocol was used.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE:

Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness as measured by StratusOCT.

RESULTS:

Compared with the control group, eyes with E-LHON showed a thicker RNFL in the 360 degrees average measurement (P<0.01) and in the superior (P<0.01), nasal (P<0.05), and inferior quadrants (P<0.05); no significant changes were detected in the temporal quadrant. Eyes with A-LHON revealed a thinner RNFL in all measurements (P<0.001); the fibers of the nasal quadrant showed the lowest amount of reduction (38% vs. 42%-49.8% in the other quadrants). In cases with A-LHON and visual recovery, RNFL was significantly thicker in all measurements (P<0.001), except the temporal quadrant, with respect to A-LHON without visual recovery.

CONCLUSIONS:

On the basis of OCT data, the RNFL is thickened in E-LHON and severely thinned in A-LHON. RNFL is likely to be partially preserved in A-LHON with visual recovery. The temporal fibers (papillomacular bundle) are the first and most severely affected; the nasal fibers seem to be partially spared in the late stage of the disease.

• Authors: Piero Barboni, Giacomo Savini, Maria Lucia Valentino, Pasquale Montagna, Pietro Cortelli, Anna Maria De Negri, Federico Sadun, Stefania Bianchi, Lora Longanesi, Maurizio Zanini, Antonello de Vivo, Valerio Carelli
• Journal: Ophthalmology (Ophthalmology) Vol. 112 Issue 1 Pg. 120-6 (Jan 2005) ISSN: 1549-4713 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 15629831 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Child
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Nerve Fibers (pathology)
• Optic Atrophy, Hereditary, Leber (diagnosis, genetics)
• Retinal Ganglion Cells (pathology)
• Tomography, Optical Coherence