New insights in the pathogenic mechanism of multiple sclerosis: Is Epstein-Barr virus associated with optic nerve involvement?

INTRODUCTION: There are no reports in the literature studying the possible relationship between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and optic nerve involvement in multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of our study was to analyze the association between EBV antibodies titres and optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) quantitative parameters. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study. The study included 98 eyes of 49 patients with MS. Years of MS duration, relapse count, history of optic neuritis (ON), and immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies to the EBV viral capsid antigen (VCA) were recorded from each patient. Also, OCT analysis (including retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness) and OCTA analysis (including perfusion density (PD) and flux index (FI) of the radial peripapillary capillary plexus) were performed in each participant. RESULTS: No significant associations were observed between anti-EBV antibody levels and OCT or OCTA parameters (p > 0,05). Correlation analysis between OCT and OCTA measurements showed a significant positive correlation between RNFL thickness and GCIPL thickness with peripapillary PD and FI (p < 0,035). Subgroup analysis revealed a significant diminution of RNFL thickness, GCIPL thickness and peripapillary PD and FI (p < 0,05) in the ON group. CONCLUSION: We were unable to demonstrate a significant association between anti-EBV VCA IgG antibody titres and OCT or OCTA parameters. Nonetheless, further longitudinal studies are needed to explore the possible association of EBV with optic nerve involvement in MS.

Optical coherence tomography angiography analysis in patients with intracranial hypertension.

INTRODUCTION: Evidence on peripapillary microvasculature in intracranial hypertension (IH) after the regression of papilledema is still scarce. The aim of this preliminary study was to determine the association between structural changes in the optic nerve and the retina and peripapillary microvasculature in patients with IIH. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study. The study included 39 eyes of 21 patients with IIH. Treatment for IIH and history of obesity were registered from each patient. Moreover, OCT analysis including retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness, and OCTA analysis including perfusion density (PD) and flux index (FI) of the radial peripapillary capillary plexus were performed. RESULTS: Correlation analysis revealed a high correlation between GCIPL thickness and peripapillary PD and FI (p < 0,05, r > 0,7), whereas the degree of correlation between RNFL thickness and peripapillary microvascular parameters was low (p < 0,05, r < 0,7). Patients with regressed papilledema had significantly lower GCIPL thickness and peripapillary PD than control subjects (p < 0,05). CONCLUSION: Peripapillary microvascular measurements are highly correlated with GCIPL thickness in patients with IIH. Moreover, GCIPL thickness and peripapillary PD are significantly inferior in patients with regressed papilledema compared to control group. Thus, we suggested that peripapillary microvascular parameters may be an early indicator of optic nerve atrophy in patients with IIH.

Case Report: Optic Nerve Atrophy Secondary to Sjögren Syndrome.

SIGNIFICANCE: Optic neuropathy associated with Sjögren syndrome is rare and usually has an acute onset. PURPOSE: This study aimed to report a case of asymmetric optic nerve atrophy attributed to Sjögren syndrome. CASE REPORT: A 37-year-old woman was referred to neuro-ophthalmology service because of right optic nerve atrophy of unknown etiology. The patient was asymptomatic. Best-corrected visual acuity was 20/200 Snellen equivalent in the right eye and 20/20 Snellen equivalent in the left eye. The right eye had a relative afferent pupillary defect. Visual field demonstrated dense temporal loss, superior arcuate involvement, and an inferior paracentral defect in the right eye. Slit-lamp examination showed mild fluorescein staining of the cornea, moderate lissamine green staining of the conjunctiva, and abnormal tear breakup time in both eyes. Fundus examination revealed diffuse pallor of the right optic disc and a normal left optic disc. Optical coherence tomography showed inferior and superior retinal nerve fiber layer atrophy in the right eye and inferior retinal nerve fiber layer atrophy in the left eye. A diagnosis of right optic nerve atrophy was made. Immunologic studies were significant for positive anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies. MRI of the brain and orbit ruled out any intracranial or white-matter pathology. A diagnosis of optic nerve atrophy secondary to Sjögren syndrome was suspected, so corticosteroid treatment was started. CONCLUSIONS: Optic nerve atrophy may be the initial manifestation of Sjögren syndrome. Therefore, optic neuropathy associated with Sjögren syndrome remains a diagnostic challenge. In these cases, specific antibodies such as anti-Ro and anti-La facilitate early diagnosis and can prevent vision-threatening complications.

Rituximab in the treatment of Susac's syndrome: Report of a case.

SIGNIFICANCE: Susac's syndrome is a rare retinocochleocerebral immune-mediated endotheliopathy and clinically manifests as a pathognomonic triad of encephalopathy, hearing loss, and branch retinal artery occlusion. This triad is rarely present at symptom onset, thus, it is often initially misdiagnosed. To date, Susac's syndrome has persisted as an elusive entity and there are numerous treatment regimens proposed with varying effectiveness mainly based on case series. PURPOSE: To report our 12-month follow-up experience in the treatment of Susac's syndrome with rituximab. CASE REPORT: A 25-year-old female presenting with headache, paresthesias, tinnitus, peripheral vertigo, and a branch retinal artery occlusion. The patient had a personal history of anxiety-depressive disorder. After discarding other infectious/autoimmune conditions and magnetic resonance imaging suggestive findings of Susac's syndrome, we observed a prompt response to the combination of intravenous immunoglobulin, corticosteroids, and rituximab. CONCLUSION: A standard treatment paradigm is lacking in Susac's syndrome as randomized controlled trials do not exist. There are no definitive scores to predict its outcome, and early diagnosis is important as the organs involved can easily become irreversibly damaged. Thus, patients with Susac's syndrome must be treated promptly and aggressively. Our report highlights the possibility of positive long-term prognosis with an early use of rituximab. However, a systematic therapeutic approach on the basis of controlled trials is mandatory to develop a consensus.

Functional and structural changes in the visual pathway in multiple sclerosis.

INTRODUCTION: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a heterogeneous disease with an unpredictable course. Visual pathway is a target of the disease and may reflect mechanisms that lead to disability. Structural and functional changes in the visual pathway may be studied by noninvasive techniques such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), visual evoked potentials (VEP), or B-mode transorbital sonography (TOS). OBJECTIVES: The aim is to assess changes in the visual pathway in eyes of MS patients with and without a history of optic neuritis over a 3-year period and to explore their relationship with disability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 112 eyes from 56 patients with relapsing MS were recruited: 29 with, and 83 without a history of ON (hON and nhON, respectively). Several parameters were measured by OCT, VEP, and TOS. Baseline measurements were also compared to 29 healthy controls. At 36 months, measurements were repeated in all eyes. RESULTS: At baseline, all tests showed significant differences in optic nerve structure and function in both patient cohorts in all the parameters studied, suggestive of more impairment of the visual pathway among the hON cohort. OCT showed significant differences between healthy controls and the nhON cohort. At 36 months, the nhON cohort showed significant changes by OCT, VEP, and TOS suggestive of further visual pathway impairment. OCT measurements also correlated with baseline EDSS among the nhON cohort. CONCLUSIONS: OCT is the most suitable technique and outperforms VEP and TOS to detect subclinical damage in the visual pathway. It discriminated MS patients from healthy controls and showed a progressive decline in optic nerve thickness over time among these patients.

An objective scatter index cutoff point as a powerful objective criterion for preoperative nuclear cataract decision-making based on ROC analysis.

PURPOSE: To assess the correlation between clinical cataract surgery indication and the objective scatter index (OSI) by defining the optimal OSI cutoff point in the surgery scheduling. SETTING: Ophthalmology service, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario, Valencia, Spain. DESIGN: Prospective triple-masked randomized single-center study. METHODS: Patients with cataractous eyes were recruited, and those with anterior segment disease, abnormal posterior pole, and/or previous ocular surgery were excluded. The principle of double-pass aberrometry was used by the main investigator to determine an OSI, after measuring subjective refraction and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), and then slitlamp evaluation was carried out by an independent researcher. The surgical decision was based on the current protocol according to the European guidelines. Correlation between the surgical decision, CDVA, and OSI were analyzed and an OSI discriminative value was calculated, implementing a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: The study comprised 106 eyes (73 patients). The analysis established an inverse linear correlation between OSI and CDVA (r = -0.455, P < .0001). The comparison of the mean OSI between the surgical group (7.05 ± 4.65 [SD]) and the nonsurgical group (2.92 ± 1.88), revealed statistically significant differences (P = 5.04 × 10-9). The OSI score 3.2 was determined as the optimal cutoff value to discriminate surgical treatment (sensitivity 80%, specificity 84%). CONCLUSIONS: An optimal OSI value, according to an ROC curve calculation, was capable of providing clinicians with a powerful criterion for preoperative decision-making, thus suggesting an end to the subjectivity implicit in the cataract surgery decision-making process.