Visualization of Focal Thinning of the Ganglion Cell–Inner Plexiform Layer in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Shao, Yi^{a; b; 1} | Jiang, Hong^{b; c; 1; *} | Wei, Yantao^{b; d} | Shi, Yingying^b | Shi, Ce^b | Wright, Clinton B.^e | Sun, Xiaoyan^c | Vanner, Elizabeth A.^{b; f} | Rodriguez, Anny D.^{b; f} | Lam, Byron L.^b | Rundek, Tatjana^c | Baumel, Barry S.^c | Gameiro, Giovana Rosa^b | Dong, Chuanhui^c | Wang, Jianhua^b

Affiliations: [a] Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China | [b] Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA | [c] Department of Neurology and the Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA | [d] State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China | [e] National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA | [f] BioStatistics Center, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Hong Jiang, MD, PhD, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, 1638 NW 10th Avenue, McKnight Building - Room 202A, Miami, FL, 33136, USA. Tel.: +1 305 482 5010; E-mail: [email protected].

Note: [1] These authors contributed equally to this work.

Abstract: Background:A detailed analysis of the tomographic thickness of intraretinal layers may provide more information on neurodegeneration in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Objective:The goal was to analyze tomographic thickness patterns of intraretinal layers in patients with AD andMCI. Method:Forty-nine patients (25 AD and 24 MCI) and 21 cognitively normal (CN) controls were imaged using ultra-high-resolution optical coherence tomography to obtain volumetric data centered on the fovea. The segmented intraretinal layers were retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell– inner plexiform layer (GCIPL), inner nuclear layer (INL), outer nuclear layer (ONL), outer plexiform layer (OPL), and retinal photoreceptor (PR), in addition to the total retinal thickness(TRT). Results:The thickness differences were negative (thinning) mainly in TRT, RNFL, and GCIPL in both AD and MCI groups in comparison to CN, while the thickness differences were positive (thickening) mainly in ONL and PR in AD. GCIPL of AD and MCI was thinner in superior, nasal superior, and temporal superior quadrants, compared to CN (p < 0.05). GCIPL of the inner superior, inner nasal superior, inner temporal superior, and outer nasal superior sectors was significantly thinner in AD than CN (p < 0.05). GCIPL of the outer superior, inner temporal superior, outer nasal, and temporal superior sectors was significantly thinner in MCI than CN (p < 0.05). Conclusion:Focal thinning of the GCIPL was visualized and quantified by detailed partitions in AD and MCI, which provides specific information about neurodegeneration in MCI and AD.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, ETDRS partition, ganglion-inner plexiform layer, hemispheric partition, mild cognitive impairment, retinal thickness mapping, ultrahigh-resolution OCT, Zeiss elliptical partition

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-180070

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 64, no. 4, pp. 1261-1273, 2018