Progressive retinal and microvascular neurodegeneration in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders: a longitudinal SS-OCT/OCTA study.

BACKGROUND

Emerging evidence suggests that subclinical visual pathway impairment might occur in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) independently of optic neuritis (ON). This prospective longitudinal cohort study aims to characterize dynamic retinal neurodegeneration and microvascular alterations in NMOSD.

METHODS

The quantitative parameters from swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) and SS-OCT angiography (SS-OCTA) included the macular retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness, superficial vascular complex (SVC) density, and deep vascular complex (DVC) density. Multivariable linear mixed-effects models adjusted for age, sex, treatment, follow-up time, and ON history were used to analyze correlations between SS-OCT/OCTA parameters and clinical features.

RESULTS

Cross-sectional analysis demonstrated significant reductions in the RNFL thickness (33.91 ± 8.90 vs. 38.88 ± 4.00 μm, p < 0.001), GCIPL thickness (54.89 ± 11.06 vs. 64.42 ± 5.28 μm, p < 0.001), and SVC density (38.17 ± 10.21% vs. 45.96 ± 3.83%, p < 0.001) in NMOSD patients versus healthy controls, along with reduced RNFL thickness (33.91 ± 8.90 μm vs. 36.22 ± 8.62 μm; p = 0.011) and SVC density (38.17 ± 10.21% vs. 40.66 ± 6.62%; p = 0.016) relative to patients with multiple sclerosis. Longitudinal analysis demonstrated a progressive decline in GCIPL thickness (- 0.18 µm/year, IQR: - 1.69 to 1.72 µm/year, p = 0.047), SVC density (- 1.11%/year, IQR:-2.90% to 0.87%/year, p = 0.003), and DVC density (- 1.88%/year, IQR: - 3.52% to 0.50%/year, p = 0.004) from baseline among clinically stable NMOSD patients. The annual degradation rate of GCIPL thickness showed significant inverse correlations with baseline logMAR visual acuity (p < 0.001), ON frequency (p < 0.001) and baseline EDSS scores (p = 0.039).

DISCUSSION: Our findings indicate that progressive retinal neurodegeneration and microvascular loss persist independently of clinical relapse, positioning SS-OCT/OCTA metrics as sensitive biomarkers for subclinical progression and supporting their integration into the framework of disease monitoring and treatment response assessment.