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Zhao R, Wang L, Chen F, Liu H, Chen C, Zhang J, Guo S, Liang Q, Jiang L. In Vivo Corneal Confocal Microscopy for Detecting Corneal Nerve Fiber Changes in Patients with Different Types of Optic Neuritis: A Cross-Sectional Study. Curr Eye Res 2024; 49:354-361. [PMID: 38165267 DOI: 10.1080/02713683.2023.2297347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Optic neuritis (ON), a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, is often a precursor manifestation of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) or multiple sclerosis (MS). Reduced corneal nerve fiber counts have been found in patients with NMOSD or MS. This study aimed to observe and compare the corneal subbasal nerve plexus in patients with three types of ON and controls without ON using in vivo corneal confocal microscopy (IVCM). METHODS Data were analyzed for 77 eyes of 48 patients with ON, grouped according to seropositivity for anti-aquaporin-4 IgG, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody, or no seropositivity, and 35 healthy eyes in the control group. Corneal parameters were quantified based on IVCM images. Visual function indicators were recorded, following which their correlations with IVCM parameters were analyzed. RESULTS Significant differences in IVCM parameters were detected among the different groups. Reductions in corneal nerve fiber counts were negatively correlated with visual acuity. Corneal nerve fibers were significantly more damaged in the affected eye than in the unaffected eye in patients with ON. CONCLUSION IVCM revealed corneal nerve fiber loss of varying degrees, depending on the type of ON. This indicates that, although ON primarily affects the central nervous system, peripheral nerves, such as the trigeminal nerve, which innervates the corneal subbasal nerve plexus may also be damaged in affected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zhao
- Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Leying Wang
- Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Chen
- Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tengzhou Central People's Hospital of Shandong Province, Shandong, China
| | - Hongjuan Liu
- Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Chunli Chen
- Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Puren Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Sitong Guo
- Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Qingfeng Liang
- Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Libin Jiang
- Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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Niu X, Yin P, Guan C, Shao Q, Cui G, Zan K, Xu C. Corneal confocal microscopy may help to distinguish Multiple System Atrophy from Parkinson's disease. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2024; 10:63. [PMID: 38493181 PMCID: PMC10944503 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-024-00680-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) and Parkinson's disease (PD) have clinical overlapping symptoms, which makes differential diagnosis difficult. Our research aimed to distinguish MSA from PD using corneal confocal microscopy (CCM), a noninvasive and objective test. The study included 63 PD patients, 30 MSA patients, and 31 healthy controls (HC). When recruiting PD and MSA, questionnaires were conducted on motor and non-motor functions, such as autonomic and cognitive functions. Participants underwent CCM to quantify the corneal nerve fibers. Corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD) and corneal nerve fiber length (CNFL) values in MSA are lower than PD (MSA vs. PD: CNFD, 20.68 ± 6.70 vs. 24.64 ± 6.43 no./mm2, p < 0.05; CNFL, 12.01 ± 3.25 vs. 14.17 ± 3.52 no./mm2, p < 0.05). In MSA + PD (combined), there is a negative correlation between CNFD and the Orthostatic Grading Scale (OGS) (r = -0.284, p = 0.007). Similarly, CNFD in the only MSA group was negatively correlated with the Unified Multiple System Atrophy Rating Scale I and II (r = -0.391, p = 0.044; r = -0.382, p = 0.049). CNFD and CNFL were inversely associated with MSA (CNFD: β = -0.071; OR, 0.932; 95% CI, 0.872 ~ 0.996; p = 0.038; CNFL: β = -0.135; OR, 0.874; 95% CI, 0.768-0.994; p = 0.040). Furthermore, we found the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) of CNFL was the largest, 72.01%. The CCM could be an objective and sensitive biomarker to distinguish MSA from PD. It visually reflects a more severe degeneration in MSA compared to PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuebin Niu
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Neurology, The First Clinical College, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Peixiao Yin
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Neurology, The First Clinical College, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chenyang Guan
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Neurology, The First Clinical College, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qiuyue Shao
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Neurology, The First Clinical College, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guiyun Cui
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Neurology, The First Clinical College, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Kun Zan
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.
- Department of Neurology, The First Clinical College, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Chuanying Xu
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.
- Department of Neurology, The First Clinical College, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.
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Lim SH, Ferdousi M, Bhattacharjee S, Kalteniece A, Mahfoud ZR, Petropoulos IN, Malik RA, Kobylecki C, Silverdale M. Corneal confocal microscopy demonstrates varying degrees of neurodegeneration in atypical parkinsonian disorders. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2023; 117:105899. [PMID: 37948830 DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2023.105899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We have used corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) to identify corneal nerve loss as a potential marker of neurodegeneration in participants with Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple system atrophy (MSA) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). METHODS Patients with PD (n = 19), PSP (n = 11), MSA (n = 8) and healthy controls (n = 18) underwent neurological assessment and CCM. RESULTS Corneal nerve fibre density was significantly lower in participants with PD (p = 0.005), PSP (p = 0.005) and MSA (p = 0.0003) compared to controls. Corneal nerve branch density was significantly lower in participants with PD (p = 0.01) and MSA (p = 0.019), but not in participants with PSP (p = 0.662), compared to controls. Corneal nerve fibre length was significantly lower in participants with PD (p = 0.002) and MSA (p = 0.001) but not in participants with PSP (p = 0.191) compared to controls. CONCLUSION CCM detects corneal nerve loss in participants with PD and MSA and to a lesser extent in PSP compared to healthy controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sze Hway Lim
- Department of Neurology, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Maryam Ferdousi
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Shakya Bhattacharjee
- Department of Neurology, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
| | - Alise Kalteniece
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | | | | | - Rayaz A Malik
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Christopher Kobylecki
- Department of Neurology, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Monty Silverdale
- Department of Neurology, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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Qamar MA, Rota S, Batzu L, Subramanian I, Falup-Pecurariu C, Titova N, Metta V, Murasan L, Odin P, Padmakumar C, Kukkle PL, Borgohain R, Kandadai RM, Goyal V, Chaudhuri KR. Chaudhuri's Dashboard of Vitals in Parkinson's syndrome: an unmet need underpinned by real life clinical tests. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1174698. [PMID: 37305739 PMCID: PMC10248458 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1174698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
We have recently published the notion of the "vitals" of Parkinson's, a conglomeration of signs and symptoms, largely nonmotor, that must not be missed and yet often not considered in neurological consultations, with considerable societal and personal detrimental consequences. This "dashboard," termed the Chaudhuri's vitals of Parkinson's, are summarized as 5 key vital symptoms or signs and comprise of (a) motor, (b) nonmotor, (c) visual, gut, and oral health, (d) bone health and falls, and finally (e) comorbidities, comedication, and dopamine agonist side effects, such as impulse control disorders. Additionally, not addressing the vitals also may reflect inadequate management strategies, leading to worsening quality of life and diminished wellness, a new concept for people with Parkinson's. In this paper, we discuss possible, simple to use, and clinically relevant tests that can be used to monitor the status of these vitals, so that these can be incorporated into clinical practice. We also use the term Parkinson's syndrome to describe Parkinson's disease, as the term "disease" is now abandoned in many countries, such as the U.K., reflecting the heterogeneity of Parkinson's, which is now considered by many as a syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mubasher A. Qamar
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Silvia Rota
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lucia Batzu
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Indu Subramanian
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Parkinson’s Disease Research, Education and Clinical Centers, Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Cristian Falup-Pecurariu
- Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University of Braşov, Brașov, Romania
- Department of Neurology, County Clinic Hospital, Brașov, Romania
| | - Nataliya Titova
- Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Medical Genetics, Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education “N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Federal State Budgetary Institution “Federal Center of Brain Research and Neurotechnologies” of the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vinod Metta
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lulia Murasan
- Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University of Braşov, Brașov, Romania
- Department of Neurology, County Clinic Hospital, Brașov, Romania
| | - Per Odin
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Prashanth L. Kukkle
- Center for Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders, Manipal Hospital, Karnataka, India, Bangalore
- Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Clinic, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Rupam Borgohain
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Rukmini Mridula Kandadai
- Department of Neurology, Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Autonomous University, Hyderabad, India
| | - Vinay Goyal
- Neurology Department, Medanta, Gurugram, India
| | - Kallo Ray Chaudhuri
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
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Che NN, Jiang QH, Chen S, Chen SY, Zhao ZX, Li X, Ma JJ, Zhang JW, Malik RA, Yang HQ. The severity of corneal nerve loss differentiates motor subtypes in patients with Parkinson's disease. Ther Adv Neurol Disord 2023; 16:17562864231165561. [PMID: 37114067 PMCID: PMC10126700 DOI: 10.1177/17562864231165561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Parkinson's disease (PD) is a heterogeneous movement disorder with patients manifesting with either tremor-dominant (TD) or postural instability and gait disturbance (PIGD) motor subtypes. Small nerve fiber damage occurs in patients with PD and may predict motor progression, but it is not known whether it differs between patients with different motor subtypes. Objective The aim of this study was to explore whether there was an association between the extent of corneal nerve loss and different motor subtypes. Methods Patients with PD classified as TD, PIGD, or mixed subtype underwent detailed clinical and neurological evaluation and corneal confocal microscopy (CCM). Corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD), corneal nerve branch density (CNBD), and corneal nerve fiber length (CNFL) were compared between groups, and the association between corneal nerve fiber loss and motor subtypes was investigated. Results Of the 73 patients studied, 29 (40%) had TD, 34 (46%) had PIGD, and 10 (14%) had a mixed subtype. CNFD (no./mm2, 24.09 ± 4.58 versus 28.66 ± 4.27; p < 0.001), CNBD (no./mm2, 28.22 ± 11.11 versus 37.37 ± 12.76; p = 0.015), and CNFL (mm/mm2, 13.11 ± 2.79 versus 16.17 ± 2.37; p < 0.001) were significantly lower in the PIGD group compared with the TD group. Multivariate logistic regression showed that higher CNFD (OR = 1.265, p = 0.019) and CNFL (OR = 1.7060, p = 0.003) were significantly associated with the TD motor subtype. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis demonstrated that combined corneal nerve metrics showed excellent discrimination between TD and PIGD, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.832. Conclusion Greater corneal nerve loss occurs in patients with PIGD compared with TD, and patients with a higher CNFD or CNFL were more likely to have the TD subtype. CCM may have clinical utility in differentiating different motor subtypes in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Shuai Chen
- Department of Neurology, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Si-Yuan Chen
- Department of Neurology, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhen-Xiang Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xue Li
- Department of Neurology, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jian-Jun Ma
- Department of Neurology, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jie-Wen Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Rayaz A. Malik
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar; Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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Buzzi M, Giannaccare G, Cennamo M, Bernabei F, Rothschild PR, Vagge A, Scorcia V, Mencucci R. Ocular Surface Features in Patients with Parkinson Disease on and off Treatment: A Narrative Review. LIFE (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:life12122141. [PMID: 36556506 PMCID: PMC9783883 DOI: 10.3390/life12122141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system. Visual disturbance is one of the most frequent nonmotor abnormalities referred to by patients suffering from PD at early stages. Furthermore, ocular surface alterations including mainly dry eye and blink reduction represent another common finding in patients with PD. Tears of PD patients show specific alterations related to protein composition, and in vivo confocal microscopy has demonstrated profound changes in different corneal layers in this setting. These changes can be attributed not only to the disease itself, but also to the medications used for its management. In particular, signs of corneal toxicity, both at epithelial and endothelial level, are well described in the literature in PD patients receiving amantadine. Management of PD patients from the ophthalmologist's side requires knowledge of the common, but often underdiagnosed, ocular surface alterations as well as of the signs of drug toxicity. Furthermore, ocular surface biomarkers can be useful for the early diagnosis of PD as well as for monitoring the degree of neural degeneration over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matilde Buzzi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, 20072 Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Giannaccare
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Michela Cennamo
- Eye Clinic, Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Pharmacology and Child Health, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Federico Bernabei
- Service d’Ophtalmologie, Ophtalmopôle de Paris, Hôpital Cochin, AP-HP, F-75014 Paris, France
| | | | - Aldo Vagge
- Eye Clinic of Genoa, Policlinico San Martino, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Scorcia
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Rita Mencucci
- Eye Clinic, Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Pharmacology and Child Health, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
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Che NN, Chen S, Jiang QH, Chen SY, Zhao ZX, Li X, Malik RA, Ma JJ, Yang HQ. Corneal confocal microscopy differentiates patients with Parkinson’s disease with and without autonomic involvement. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2022; 8:114. [PMID: 36085290 PMCID: PMC9463159 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-022-00387-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Autonomic dysregulation in Parkinson’s disease (PD) can precede motor deficits and is associated with reduced quality of life, disease progression, and increased mortality. Objective markers of autonomic involvement in PD are limited. Corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) is a rapid ophthalmic technique that can quantify small nerve damage in a range of peripheral and autonomic neuropathies. Here we investigated whether CCM can be used to assess autonomic symptoms in PD. Based on the scale for outcomes in Parkinson’s disease for autonomic symptoms (SCOPA-AUT), patients with PD were classified into those without autonomic symptoms (AutD-N), with single (AutD-S), and multiple (AutD-M) domain autonomic dysfunction. Corneal nerve fiber pathology was quantified using CCM, and the relationship with autonomic symptoms was explored. The study enrolled 71 PD patients and 30 control subjects. Corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD), corneal nerve branch density (CNBD), corneal nerve fiber length (CNFL), and CNBD/CNFD ratio were lower in PD patients with autonomic symptoms compared to those without autonomic symptoms. Autonomic symptoms correlated positively with CNFD (r = −0.350, p = 0.004), and were not related to Levodopa equivalent daily dose (r = 0.042, p = 0.733) after adjusting for age, disease severity, disease duration or cognitive function. CCM parameters had high sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing patients with PD with and without autonomic symptoms. PD patients with autonomic symptoms have corneal nerve loss, and CCM could serve as an objective ophthalmic imaging technique to identify patients with PD and autonomic symptoms.
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Fu J, He J, Zhang Y, Liu Z, Wang H, Li J, Chen L, Fan D. Small fiber neuropathy for assessment of disease severity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: corneal confocal microscopy findings. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2022; 17:7. [PMID: 34991673 PMCID: PMC8734326 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-021-02157-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder with progressive motor system impairment, and recent evidence has identified the extra-motor involvement. Small fiber neuropathy reflecting by sensory and autonomic disturbances in ALS has been reported to accompany the motor damage. However, non-invasive assessment of this impairment and its application in disease evaluation of ALS is scarce. We aim to evaluate the use of corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) to non-invasively quantify the corneal small fiber neuropathy in ALS and explore its clinical value in assessing disease severity of ALS. METHODS Sixty-six patients with ALS and 64 healthy controls were included in this cross-sectional study. Participants underwent detailed clinical assessments and corneal imaging with in vivo CCM. Using ImageJ, the following parameters were quantified: corneal nerve length (IWL) and dendritic cell density (IWDC) in the inferior whorl region and corneal nerve fiber length (CNFL), nerve fiber density (CNFD), nerve branch density (CNBD), and dendritic cell density (CDC) in the peripheral region. Disease severity was evaluated using recognized scales. RESULTS Corneal nerve lengths (IWL and CNFL) were lower while dendritic cell densities (IWDC and CDC) were higher in patients with ALS than controls in peripheral and inferior whorl regions (p < 0.05). Additionally, corneal nerve complexity in the peripheral region was greater in patients than controls with higher CNBD (p = 0.040) and lower CNFD (p = 0.011). IWL was significantly associated with disease severity (p < 0.001) and progression (p = 0.002) in patients with ALS. Patients with bulbar involvement showed significantly lower IWL (p = 0.014) and higher IWDC (p = 0.043) than patients without bulbar involvement. CONCLUSIONS CCM quantified significant corneal neuropathy in ALS, and alterations in the inferior whorl region were closely associated with disease severity. CCM could serve as a noninvasive, objective imaging tool to detect corneal small fiber neuropathy for clinical evaluation in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayu Fu
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, 49 North Garden Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China.,Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Ji He
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, 49 North Garden Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China.,Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Yixuan Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, 49 North Garden Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China.,Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Ziyuan Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Haikun Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jiameng Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lu Chen
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, 49 North Garden Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China.,Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Dongsheng Fan
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, 49 North Garden Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China. .,Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beijing, China.
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