Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40424561›Full record

SynthesisNeurology(R) neuroimmunology & neuroinflammation2025

Retinal Optical Coherence Tomography Longitudinal Measures as Prognostic Biomarkers in Multiple Sclerosis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Nabil K El Ayoubi, Ali Ismail, Georgio Sader, Nour Abi Chakra, Jad El Ahdab, Joseph Abboud, Samia J Khoury

Erratum issuedAbstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Neurology(R) neuroimmunology & neuroinflammation, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 16 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
16citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

16 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Review
  7. Observational
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Article
  12. Article
  13. Review
  14. Review
  15. Patterns and predictors of transition between multiple sclerosis phenotypes: A longitudinal analysis.Multiple sclerosis journal - experimental, translational and clinical
    Article
  16. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Nabil K El AyoubiNehme and Therese Tohme Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
Ali IsmailFaculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon.
Georgio SaderNehme and Therese Tohme Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
Nour Abi ChakraFaculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
Jad El AhdabNehme and Therese Tohme Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
Joseph AbboudNehme and Therese Tohme Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
Samia J KhouryNehme and Therese Tohme Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.ORCID 0000-0003-3198-6063

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectivesOptical coherence tomography (OCT) has emerged as a valuable marker for assessing inflammation and neuroaxonal degeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS). Although traditional markers such as brain atrophy and axonal loss are crucial for monitoring MS progression, their clinical application can be limited by various factors. This meta-analysis of longitudinal studies aims to assess the predictive value of OCT-derived retinal layer thickness thresholds for monitoring and predicting MS disease progression and cognitive decline.

methodsOur systematic review and meta-analysis followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. A comprehensive systematic search was performed using electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) for longitudinal studies using Spectral Domain-OCT (SD-OCT) to assess retinal layer thickness and its predictive value for MS progression. Data were extracted on study design, OCT measurements, disability progression definitions, and clinical outcomes. We analyzed hazard ratios (HR) and odds ratios (OR) for associations between OCT-measured thresholds and disability progression, including physical and cognitive deterioration.

resultsOur study included 14 longitudinal studies that met our inclusion criteria, 13 studies were included in our quantitative analysis, with a total of 3,683 participants. Baseline peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness below 88 μm was significantly associated with increased risk of future disease progression and physical worsening measured by Expanded Disability Status Scale progression (HR = 2.376, DISCUSSION: OCT-derived retinal layer thresholds, specifically a pRNFL thickness of ≤88 μm and a GCIPL thickness of ≤77 μm, are significantly associated with an increased risk of future MS disability progression. Furthermore, annual thinning rates of pRNFL >1.5 μm/y and GCIPL >1 μm/y demonstrate greater predictive power and are more clinically relevant for identifying individuals at high risk of both physical and cognitive disability progression outcomes. Further research is needed to standardize OCT thresholds and improve clinical use in treatment planning.

Indexed as

Multiple SclerosisRetinaTomography, Optical CoherenceBiomarkersDisease ProgressionHumansLongitudinal StudiesPrognosisBiomarkers

Identifiers

PMID40424561
PMCPMC12153945

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.