Severe structural and functional visual system damage leads to profound loss of Vision-related quality of life in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders

Item Type:	Article
Title:	Severe structural and functional visual system damage leads to profound loss of Vision-related quality of life in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders
Creators Name:	Schmidt, F. and Zimmermann, H. and Mikolajczak, J. and Oertel, F.C. and Pache, F. and Weinhold, M. and Schinzel, J. and Bellmann-Strobl, J. and Ruprecht, K. and Paul, F. and Brandt, A.U.
Abstract:	BACKGROUND: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are characterized by devastating optic neuritis attacks causing more structural damage and visual impairment than in multiple sclerosis (MS). The objective of this study was to compare vision-related quality of life in NMOSD and MS patients and correlate it to structural retinal damage and visual function. METHODS: Thirty-one NMOSD and 31 matched MS patients were included. Vision-related quality of life was assessed with the 39-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ). All patients underwent retinal optical coherence tomography and visual acuity and contrast sensitivity measurements. RESULTS: Vision-related quality of life was reduced in NMOSD compared to MS patients. This difference was driven by a higher incidence of bilateral and more severe optic neuritis in the NMOSD group. Retinal thinning and visual impairment were significantly greater in the NMOSD cohort. Lower vision-related quality of life was associated with more retinal damage and reduced visual function as assessed by visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. CONCLUSION: NMOSD-related bilateral ON-attacks cause severe structural damage and visual impairment that lead to severe loss of vision-related quality of life. The NEI-VFQ is a helpful tool to monitor vision-related quality of life in NMOSD patients.
Keywords:	Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder, Vision Related Quality of Life, Optic Neuritis, Retinal Nerve Fibre Layer, Visual Function, Optical Coherence Tomography
Source:	Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders
ISSN:	2211-0348
Publisher:	Elsevier
Volume:	11
Page Range:	45-50
Date:	January 2017
Official Publication:	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2016.11.008
PubMed:	View item in PubMed

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