研究目的
The primary aim of this study was to determine inter-eye correlations in BFVs in healthy controls (HCs). Since prior studies raise the possibility of reduced BFV in MS eyes, a secondary aim was to compare retinal BFVs between MS eyes, grouped based on optic neuritis (ON) history and HC eyes.
研究成果
Inter-eye BFVs are strongly correlated without significant differences in HC eyes. Our study findings also support prior observations of reduced arteriolar and venular BFVs in MS eyes. Interestingly, this seems to be the case regardless of ON history, thereby suggesting that microvascular alterations in MS may be widespread. Although we did not find differences in BFVs between MSON and MSNON eyes, larger and longitudinal studies are required in the future to more definitively assess this and to relate results to established retinal biomarkers of neurodegeneration.
研究不足
We did not measure BFV in both eyes of MS patients since the imaging procedure requires pupillary dilation with bilateral scanning potentially leading to additional time and discomfort. The measurement of BFVs was not fully automated since the vessels were manually traced and sometimes designated as arterioles or venules by the operator. We did not acquire RFI scans with both the 35 and 20 degree FOV, which precludes direct comparison of our study findings to those in which the 20 degree FOV was utilized. The sample sizes of the MSON and MSNON cohorts were small, in particular being slightly underpowered in the MSON cohort based on the power calculations performed.
