Optical coherence retinal tomography as a prognostic biomarker of multiple sclerosis progression

Abstract

   Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune infl ammatory demyelinating neurodegenerative disabling disease of the central nervous system of multifactorial genesis. In the initial stages of remitting multiple sclerosis, autoimmune inflammation prevails with alternation of exacerbations and remissions, but, subsequently, progressive neurodegeneration develops, which underlies the persistent disability of patients. The transition of remitting multiple sclerosis into a secondary progressive form is a critical factor for long-term prognosis and makes it necessary to find accurate biomarkers, predictors of the risk of transformation of MS. One such marker is the thickness of the nerve fiber layer and ganglion cells, as well as the condition of the retinal microvasculature, which is easily verifi ed by optical coherence tomography (OCT), a non-invasive method that allows for real-time retinal segmentation in the axial plane.   The aim of this review is to discuss the results achieved in the study and application OCT of the retina as a potential imaging biomarker of multiple sclerosis progression.