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| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Retinal layer thickness for risk stratification of progression independent of relapse activity in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis |
| Creators: |
Braginets, Andre  ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8669-2804, Oertel, Frederike Cosima ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4906-5983, Strauß, Eva-Maria, Leutloff, Carla ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4074-9717, Schmitz-Hübsch, Tanja ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4833-5937, Paul, Friedemann ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6378-0070, Asseyer, Susanna ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6289-1791, Wicklein, Rebecca ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6661-6081, Hemmer, Bernhard ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5985-6784, Ruprecht, Klemens ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1962-6014, Zimmermann, Hanna Gwendolyn ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0276-8051, Knier, Benjamin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4187-9472 and Lin, Ting-Yi ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9605-8095
|
| Abstract: | BACKGROUND: Identifying people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (pwRRMS) at risk of progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA) remains an unmet clinical need. Optical coherence tomography (OCT)-derived measures of retinal neuroaxonal damage may provide prognostic value. This study aimed to evaluate whether peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIP) thickness predict PIRA within a heterogenous group of pwRRMS. METHODS: We retrospectively screened pwRRMS with ≥ 2 years relapse-free follow-up from prospective observational cohort studies in Berlin (n = 74) and Munich (n = 146). PIRA was defined as disability worsening, determined by method-specific thresholds across multimodal assessments, sustained until end of follow-up. Analyses were restricted to non-optic neuritis eyes. Cox hazard models were used to assess the adjusted hazard (aHR) of PIRA with age-adjusted pRNFL or GCIP Z-scores. RESULTS: Out of 220 pwRRMS (age: 38.1 ± 9.9 years), 65 (29.5%) developed PIRA over a follow-up of 2.9 [IQR: 1.6–4.1] years. No associations between OCT measures and PIRA were found within the overall study population or Munich cohort. In the Berlin cohort, thinner pRNFL predicted PIRA (aHR [95% CI] = 1.41 [1.03–1.92], p = 0.032), while GCIP did not (aHR [95% CI] = 1.38 [0.90–2.10], p = 0.140). CONCLUSIONS: OCT measurements do not predict the hazard of PIRA within a heterogeneous group of pwRRMS. However, they have potential prognostic value in early disease stages. Clinical characteristics might influence the association and require further investigation. |
| Keywords: | Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), Progression Independent of Relapse Activity (PIRA), Retinal Layer Thickness |
| Source: | Brain and Behavior |
| ISSN: | 2162-3279 |
| Publisher: | Wiley |
| Volume: | 16 |
| Number: | 8 |
| Page Range: | e71612 |
| Date: | August 2026 |
| Official Publication: | https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.71612 |
| PubMed: | View item in PubMed |
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