Journal Article

DZNE-2021-01586

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Microvascular Breakdown Due to Retinal Neurodegeneration in Ataxias.

Turski, C. (First author)DZNE* ; Turski, G. N.DZNE* ; Faber, J.DZNE* ; Teipel, S. J.DZNE* ; Holz, F. G. ; Klockgether, T.DZNE* ; Finger, R. P.

2022
Wiley New York, NY

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1002/mds.28791

Abstract: Neurodegenerative ataxias are devastating disorders of the cerebellum and spinal cord, accompanied by death of retinal ganglion cells, leading to relentlessly progressive decline of motor coordination and permanent disability. Retinal microvascular affection has not yet been determined.The aim of this study is to assess whether retinal microvascular alterations occur and, if so, whether they are concurrent with or follow cell death in the retina in neurodegenerative diseases.This study involves the cross-sectional observational study of 43 patients with ataxia and 43 controls enrolled from August 1, 2018, to September 30, 2020. The extent of ataxia was determined by the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia. Changes in retinal vasculature were examined by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) and retinal cell and fiber density by OCT in ataxias concurrently.When comparing the ataxia cohort with healthy subjects, ataxia patients exhibited reduced vessel density in the radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) network (P = 0.005), capillary density inside the optic nerve head (cdONH) (P < 0.001), nasal superficial vascular plexus (P = 0.03) as well as reduced ganglion cell layer (GCL) volume (P = 0.04), and temporal peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (P = 0.04). Mixed effect analysis modeling laterality confirmed these findings.These findings demonstrate a distinct pattern of concurrent changes in vessel density of the retinal superficial vascular complex, encompassing the superficial vascular plexus, RPC network and cdONH, and retinal GCL volume, providing new insights into the ongoing degeneration in ataxias. Our findings may have relevance for design of novel therapeutic approaches for ataxias and possibly other neurodegenerative diseases.

Keyword(s): Ataxia (MeSH) ; Cross-Sectional Studies (MeSH) ; Fluorescein Angiography: methods (MeSH) ; Humans (MeSH) ; Optic Disk: blood supply (MeSH) ; Retina: diagnostic imaging (MeSH) ; Tomography, Optical Coherence: methods (MeSH) ; ataxia ; optical coherence tomography angiography ; retinal ganglion cells ; retinal superficial vascular complex ; retinal vessel density

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Clinical Research Platform (CRP) (AG Spottke)
2. Clinical Dementia Research (Rostock /Greifswald) (AG Teipel)
3. Patient Studies (AG Klockgether)
4. Clinical Research Platform (CRP) (Clinical Research Platform (CRP))

Research Program(s):

1. 353 - Clinical and Health Care Research (POF4-353) (POF4-353)

Appears in the scientific report 2022

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Database coverage:
; ; ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Clinical Medicine ; Current Contents - Life Sciences ; DEAL Wiley ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF >= 5 ; JCR ; Nationallizenz ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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