The Belfast Eye and Multiple Sclerosis (BEAMS) Study

Description

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neuroinflammatory disease of the central nervous system. MS also affects the visual system, including changes in the retina. The Belfast Eye and Multiple Sclerosis (BEAMS) study aimed to examine whether the retina could become an imaging and functional surrogate for the development and progression of MS.

So far, 40 participants are enrolled and were imaged (16 patients with MS and 24 controls). We used a range of retinal imaging modalities from which we report on optical coherence tomography (OCT; Heidelberg SPECTRALIS) and adaptive optics (AO; Image-Eyes RTX1). OCT images were analysed by the automatic segmentation software (Heyex). AO images were analysed by the semi-automated algorithm (AODetect). Controls were compared to patients with (MSON) and without optic neuritis (MSnON). Data obtained were analysed using SPSS and visualised using GraphPad Prism.

The cohorts were statistically balanced for age and gender. Preliminary results suggest significant thinning (p<0.0001) of the pRNFL and GCL-IPL in MSON but no significant changes (p>0.05) were observed in MSnON compared to controls. No change was detected in the ONL thickness between all groups (p>0.05). There was a significant decrease (p=0.002) in cone densities in MS compared to controls.

The BEAMS study replicates previously reported thinning of the inner retinal layers. Despite no measurable change in photoreceptor layer thickness we report, for the first time, significant loss of cone numbers in the macula in MS. Our preliminary results suggest a need for comprehensive analysis of retinal changes to detect and monitor the progression of MS.

Period	15 Jun 2021
Held at	All Ireland Multiple Sclerosis Research Network (AIMS)