The Association of Optical Coherence Tomography Results With Neuroimaging Signs and Some Clinical Parameters in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

Abstract

Background: Recently, optical coherence tomography (OCT) has enhanced our understanding of visual disturbances in idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). Its importance in the evaluation process of IIH has been established; however, there are many unknown aspects regarding the relationship of OCT measurements with several clinical features of IIH. Herein, we aimed to investigate the associations of OCT measurements with neuroimaging findings and some clinical parameters in our cohort with IIH.

Methods: Patients over 18 years of age presenting to the neurology and neuro-ophthalmology outpatient clinics, between 2017 and 2019, who were diagnosed with IIH were included in the study. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) recordings were retrospectively evaluated for the presence of neuroimaging signs of intracranial hypertension. Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) measurements and other clinical parameters were retrospectively evaluated from the hospital recoding system. SPSS Statistics (version 20) were used for statistical analyses.

Results: We have included 18 patients of IIH with a mean age of 38.6 years (range: 19 - 69 years) and female/male ratio was 17:1. Mean body mass index (BMI) of the patients was 30.5 ± 5.7 and mean lumbar puncture (LP) opening pressure was 313.8 ± 66.6 mm H₂O. Correlation analyses between LP opening pressure and average RNFL thickness of the right eye revealed a significant positive correlation. The results of the other correlation analyses were unremarkable.

Conclusions: We have found a significant correlation between LP opening pressure and RNFL thickness of the right eye. No association between RNFL measurement and MRI signs of intracranial hypertension was found. Investigating the possible associations between RNFL measurements and the clinical and neuroimaging signs in future studies may provide crucial contributions regarding the unknown aspects of IIH pathophysiology.




J Neurol Res. 2019;9(4-5):65-71
doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jnr550