Optical Coherence Tomography and Subclinical Optical Neuritis in Longitudinally Extensive Transverse Myelitis.

OBJECTIVE

The aim is to compare the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness of longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) eyes without previous optic neuritis with that of healthy control subjects.

METHODS

Over 20 LETM eyes and 20 normal control eyes were included in the study and subjected to optical coherence tomography to evaluate and compare the RNFL thickness.

RESULT: Significant RNFL thinning was observed at 8 o'clock position in LETM eyes as compared to the control eyes (P = 0.038). No significant differences were seen in other RNFL measurements.

CONCLUSION

Even in the absence of previous optic neuritis LETM can lead to subclinical axonal damage leading to focal RNFL thinning.