Name

Le BMO dans la neuromyélite optique

Optical coherence tomography analyzes the neurodegeneration in neuromyelitis optica and multiple sclerosis and quantifies optical atrophy. The retinal nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell layer thickness are decreased and this structural change is correlated with visual function of patients, including contrast vision and visual field deviation. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the Bruch’s membrane opening minimum rim width of the patients with neuromyelitis optica.

We studied the thickness of the Bruch's membrane openin by optical coherence tomography, in patients with neuromyelitis optica (n=25; 34 eyes), multiple sclerosis (n=50; 70 eyes) and a control group (n=51; 100 eyes). The study evaluated the structure-function relationship with the correlation between optical coherence tomography and visual function: visual acuity, Pelli-Robson score, Sloan 2.5 and 1.25, color vision, standard automated perimetry and frequency doubling technology perimetry.

The average thickness of Bruch's membrane opening was significantly reduced in neuromyelitis optica and multiple sclerosis with or without history of optic neuritis. Significant thinning of the average, nasal and inferonasal Bruch's membrane opening in the absence of optic neuritis in neuromyelitis optica was found compared to controls (p=0.022, 0.006 and 0.026 respectively). Bruch's membrane opening was strongly correlated with Pelli-Robson score (p<0.001), Sloan 2.5 (p<0.001) and mean deviation of standard automated perimetry and frequency doubling technology perimetry (p=0.004). The sectorial study found a high correlation between the Bruch's membrane opening and the corresponding sector of the visual field. 

The Bruch's membrane opening thickness is decreased after optic neuritis in neuromyelitis optica and multiple sclerosis. This study showed an improved ability of Bruch's membrane opening over retinal nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell layer to detect infra clinical impairment in patients with neuromyelitis optica without a history of optic neuropathy. Like retinal nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell layer, Bruch's membrane opening is well correlated with visual function, including contrast vision and visual field deviation. 

The Bruch's membrane opening thickness is decreased in neuromyelitis optica with or without optic neuritis.