Peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer thinning rate as a biomarker discriminating stable and progressing relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.

Background and purposePeripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (pRNFL) thickness is a strong candidate as a biomarker of axonal degeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim was to determine a cut-off value of pRNFL thinning rates in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) to discriminate between stable and progressing patients. MethodsIn this 3-year prospective longitudinal study on 141 RRMS patients, annual pRNFL thinning rates (aLpRNFL) were determined by individual linear regression models. The best possible cut-off value discriminating clinically progressing (physical progression or cognitive decline) and stable patients was defined by receiver operating characteristic analysis. Cut-off values were validated using a multivariate logistic regression model. ResultsAverage aLpRNFL in progressing patients (2.4 mu m, SD 2.1) was significantly higher compared to stable patients (0.5 mu m, SD 1.2, P<0.001). At a predefined specificity of 90%, aLpRNFL >1.5 mu m was able to distinguish between stable and progressing RRMS with a sensitivity of 76.1%. aLpRNFL >1.5 mu m was associated with a 15-fold increased risk of clinically progressing MS (P<0.001). ConclusionsA cut-off of aLpRNFL discriminating clinically progressing and stable RRMS was identified. After validation in independent cohorts, this cut-off could be used as a biomarker of axonal degeneration supporting disease monitoring in daily clinical routine.