Johns Hopkins researchers just released data from a study showing that a simple eye exam might help diagnose people with MS. The process is called "optical coherence tomography" or OCT. It uses a very simple machine that is like a slit-lamp to scan the layers of nerve fibers of the retina (in the back of the eye).
OCT examines the thickness of the optic nerve, which appears to be correlated with overall health of the brain tissues and brain atrophy, even in fairly early stages of disease.
This development of a potentially new tool for diagnosis is exciting, because:
- OCT scans take one-tenth as long as MRIs and one-tenth the price as MRIs, meaning they could be used pretty efficiently as screening tools or to monitor response to therapy (including in clinical trials)
- OCT scans could potentially detect a problem long before brain atrophy was detected on MRIs, which happens relatively late in the disease process
- OCT scans could point to disease status, rather than relying on disability measures
Changes in thickness of optic nerve is not unique to MS, but certainly would give a good indication that MS should be considered when trying to determine a diagnosis.
Please confirm for me the medical source you use for the following:
If You Are On Tysabri
Do not receive a vaccine or flu shot while you are being treated with Tysabri, unless your doctor has told you to.
Regards,
Malinda
It is incorrect to state from the study cited that OCT would be used to “diagnose” MS. The goal of the study (like several authors on OCT, mostly published by Laura Balcer) was to establish that the RNFL thickness correlates with measures of brain atrophy. If this is true, in future studies of MS, rather than have patients undergo MRI to measure whole brain atrophy (which is uncomfortable, lengthy and expensive), OCT could be used to measure the effectiveness of the drug being tested to delay whole brain atrophy. Loss of RNFL thickness measured by OCT has never been proven to be specific for MS. In fact, many other neurologic and ophthalmologic problems can cause RNFL thinning on OCT, so OCT results could not be used to “diagnose” MS.