Differential patterns of parafoveal and peripapillary vessel density in multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.

ABSTRACT Background: To compare intraocular microvascular alterations between patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A). Methods: Sixty patients were included in the study, 23 MS patients (36 eyes) and 37 NMOSD patients (47 eyes), all with a history of optic neuritis (ON). All subjects underwent comprehensive ophthalmic examinations, OCT-A, and high-definition-OCT imaging. OCT-A was used to measure the vessel density of the superficial and deep retinal capillary plexus (SRCP and DRCP) in the macular area and the radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) segment. Age, spherical equivalent, and gender were adjusted for in the analyses. Results: Patients with NMOSD showed significantly decreased vessel density of the SRCP (average, p = 0.0007; superior, p = 0.0009; inferior, p = 0.0002) and RPC segment (average, p Conclusion: We demonstrated parafoveal and peripapillary vascular alterations between MS and NMOSD patients that varied in degree and pattern. We also found correlations between vessel density and structural and functional parameters in MS and NMOSD patients. Further studies are needed to facilitate a greater understanding of the pathogenesis and its association with vascular alterations in these disorders.