Demyelinating optic neuritis: Optical coherence tomography and multifocal electroretinography data correlation

Abstract

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) data using 61 hexagons are presented in three groups of patients: (1) with multiple sclerosis (MS) and optic neuritis (ON) (14 patients), (2) with ON of unknown etiology (19 patients), and (3) with ON of infectious etiology (12 patients). In the patients with MS, the correlation of the latency of the P1 component of mfERG in the parafovea with the retinal thickness in the central zone in all the quadrants of the fundus (except for the superior one) and with the total macular volume has been revealed, which makes it possible to use this mfERG parameter as a marker of MS progression. The results of the current study have demonstrated that the density ratio R₁/R_x may be used as an additional marker of the acute stage in diagnostic process. Patients with ON of infectious etiology were characterized by a decrease in the retinal thickness in the parafoveal zone of the temporal and inferior quadrants and reduction in the density and amplitude of P1 in all the rings.