1
|
Dolcetti E, Buttari F, Bruno A, Azzolini F, Gilio L, Di Caprio V, Lauritano G, Borrelli A, Galifi G, Furlan R, Finardi A, Musella A, Guadalupi L, Mandolesi G, Rovella V, Centonze D, Stampanoni Bassi M. Low-contrast visual acuity test is associated with central inflammation and predicts disability development in newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis patients. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1326506. [PMID: 38585351 PMCID: PMC10995923 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1326506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The visual system is a prominent site of damage in MS since the earliest phases of the disease. Altered low-contrast visual acuity (LCVA) test has been associated with visual impairment and retinal degeneration, predicting medium- and long-term disability. However, it is unclear whether LCVA may also represent a reliable measure of neuroinflammation and a predictor of disease evolution in the very early stages of MS. Methods We explored in a group of 76 consecutive newly diagnosed relapsing-remitting MS (RR-MS) patients without visual impairment or altered visual evoked potentials, the association between LCVA scores at 2.5% and 1.25% and clinical characteristics, including prospective disability evaluated after 1- and 2 years of follow-up. Associations between LCVA and the CSF levels of IL-10 at diagnosis were also analyzed. Results A negative correlation was found between LCVA at 2.5% and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) evaluated at first (Spearman's Rho = -0.349, p = 0.005, n = 62) and second year (Spearman's Rho = -0.418, p < 0.001, n = 62) of follow-up, and negative correlations were found with Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score (MSSS) at first (Spearman's Rho = -0.359, p = 0.004, n = 62) and second year (Spearman's Rho = -0.472, p < 0.001, n = 62). All the data were confirmed by a mixed effect model, considering other clinical variables. A positive correlation was found between the CSF concentrations of IL-10 and LCVA at 2.5% (Spearman's Rho = 0.272, p = 0.020, n = 76), and 1.25% (Spearman's Rho, = 0.276, p = 0.018, n = 76), also evidenced in a linear regression. Discussion In MS patients at diagnosis, altered LCVA may be associated with CSF inflammation and represent a useful parameter to identify patients with worse disease course.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Fabio Buttari
- Neurology Unit, IRCSS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
- Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Luana Gilio
- Neurology Unit, IRCSS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
- Faculty of Psychology, Uninettuno Telematic International University, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Roberto Furlan
- Clinical Neuroimmunology Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe), Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Annamaria Finardi
- Clinical Neuroimmunology Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe), Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandra Musella
- Synaptic Immunopathology Lab, IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, Rome, Italy
- Department of Human Sciences and Quality of Life Promotion, University of Rome San Raffaele, Rome, Italy
| | - Livia Guadalupi
- Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy
- Synaptic Immunopathology Lab, IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Georgia Mandolesi
- Synaptic Immunopathology Lab, IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, Rome, Italy
- Department of Human Sciences and Quality of Life Promotion, University of Rome San Raffaele, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Diego Centonze
- Neurology Unit, IRCSS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
- Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|