Retina thickness in clinically affected and unaffected eyes in patients with aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G antibody seropositive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Retina thickness has been studied in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) without distinguishing serostatus and limited data are available in unaffected eyes. We aimed to investigate retina thickness in eyes of aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G antibody seropositive (AQP4-IgG) NMOSD patients with optic neuritis (AQP4-ON) and without (AQP4-NON).

METHODS

Eligible studies were identified by searching PubMed and Embase. Mean difference (MD, μm) with corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) was pooled with random-effect models. The primary measures were average thickness of peripapillar retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) centered on optic disc and the combination of ganglion cell layer and inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) at macula.

RESULTS

We included 21 studies enrolling 787 AQP4-IgG NMOSD patients. Compared with healthy control, pRNFL was thinner in eyes of AQP4-ON (- 32.78, 95% CI [- 36.24, - 29.33]) and AQP4-NON (- 2.76, 95% CI [- 3.94, - 1.58]), so was GICPL in AQP4-ON (-21.38, 95% CI [- 24.01, - 18.74]) and AQP4-NON (95% CI - 2.96, [- 3.91, - 2.00]). Compared with multiple sclerosis with ON, AQP4-ON had thinner pRNFL (- 13.56, 95%CI [- 16.51, - 10.60]) and GCIPL (- 9.12, 95% CI [- 11.88, - 6.36]). AQP4-ON and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated demyelination with ON (MOG-ON) had similar pRNFL (0.59, 95% CI [- 6.61, 7.79]) and GCIPL thickness (- 0.55, 95% CI [- 2.92, 1.82]). AQP4-NON had similar pRNFL and GCIPL thickness to MOG-NON and multiple sclerosis without ON.

CONCLUSIONS

The average thickness of pRNFL and GICPL decreased both in AQP4-ON and AQP4-NON eyes. AQP4-ON eyes had a similar level of pRNFL and GICPL thinning to MOG-ON eyes, so did AQP4-NON to MOG-NON eyes.