Objective: We report that lumbar puncture (LP) with removal of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) induced rebound intracranial hypertension with increased papilledema as monitored by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Background: Severe papilledema causes visual field loss and central vision damage if untreated. Fundoscopy is a key to diagnose papilledema, but is not sensitive enough to monitor therapeutic effects. Methods: OCT was applied to follow a 24-year-old woman with headache, visual dysfunction, severe bilateral papilledema, and elevated CSF opening pressure. She was first treated with serial LP, which led to symptom deterioration, increased CSF pressure, and increased the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness. She was then successfully treated with acetazolamide and furosemide. Results: OCT showed reduction of RNFL thickness directly after LP with CSF removal, accompanied with reduced CSF pressure. Increased RNFL thickness accompanied with worsened headache, visual dysfunction, and increased CSF pressure was observed on the next day after LP. Less than 24 h after start of medication, the symptoms had reversed and RNFL thickness was reduced. The patient was symptom-free 2 weeks after starting on medical treatment. Papilledema had vanished on fundoscopy 6 weeks after the therapy, and RNFL thickness was normalized at 3 months of follow-up. Conclusion: This case provides evidence that OCT is an objective and sensitive tool to monitor papilledema and its response to therapy, and thereby important to help in correct clinical decision-making.

Background Optical coherence tomography (OCT) could be complementary to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain in monitoring course of multiple sclerosis (MS) and clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). Thinning of neurons in ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) measured by OCT is assumed to be associated with brain atrophy. Objectives To evaluate association of GCIPL with brain parameters detected by quantitative MRI (qMRI) and MR-spectroscopy (MRS) in early MS and CIS. Methods Seventeen newly diagnosed MS and 18 CIS patients were prospectively included. The patients were assessed at baseline as well as at 1 year follow-up by OCT, qMRI and MRS. Brain parenchymal and myelin volumes (BPV, MYV respectively) and the corresponding fractions (BPF, MYF) were measured with qMRI. Metabolites including myo-inositol (myo-Ins) were measured in the normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) using MRS. T-tests and ANOVA were used to analyze group differences, and linear regression models to evaluate association of GCIPL with BPV, MYV and myo-Ins after correlation analysis. Results Disease activity reflected by lesions on MRI and presence of CSF oligoclonal IgG bands were more prominent in MS compared to CIS. GCIPL, BPV, MYV, BPF and MYF were reduced, while concentration of myo-Ins was increased in MS compared to CIS. Follow-up showed consistency of thinner GCIPL in MS compared to CIS. GCIPL thinning correlated with reduced BPV and MYV (P < .05 for both), but with increased myo-Ins (P < .01). Conclusions Significant GCIPL thinning occurs in early MS and is associated with enhanced brain inflammation and atrophy.

Background and purpose We previously reported that certain optical coherence tomography (OCT) measures were sensitive and reliable in identifying idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). This prospective study aimed to define OCT measures that allow differentiation of IIH with and without papilledema, thereby helping clinical decision-making. Methods Eight patients with IIH with papilledema, nine without papilledema and 19 with other neurological diseases were included. OCT measures were obtained before lumbar puncture and within 2 h, 1, 3 and 6 months after lumbar puncture with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) removal. Results All patients with papilledema had increased retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and elevated CSF pressure. All patients without papilledema had normal RNFL but elevated CSF pressure. After CSF removal, reduced RNFL thickness was registered in all eight patients with IIH with papilledema. No significant change in RNFL thickness after CSF removal was observed in IIH without papilledema or in patients with other neurological diseases, although reduced CSF pressure was documented. RNFL thickness tended to be normal in patients with IIH with papilledema at 3-6 months after CSF removal. All patients with IIH showed increased rim area and rim thickness, but reduced optic cup volume regardless of RNFL thickness or papilledema. Conclusions Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness is sensitive for monitoring acute IIH and evaluating treatment effect. Increased rim area and rim thickness and decreased optic cup volume are reliable parameters that indicate persistently increased CSF pressure and risk of relapse. OCT measures are sensitive and reliable for diagnosing subtle IIH even in the absence of papilledema.

Background and Purpose It is exceedingly difficult to differentiate benign multiple sclerosis (BMS) from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) based on clinical characteristics, neuroimaging, and cerebrospinal fluid tests. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) allows quantification of retinal structures, such as the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, at the optic disc and the ganglion cell layer (GCL) at the macula, on a micrometer scale. It can also be used to trace minor alterations and the progression of neurodegeneration, help predict BMS, and influence the choice of therapy. To utilize OCT to detect the extent of changes of the optic disk and macular microstructure in patients with BMS and RRMS compared to healthy controls (HCs), with special focus on changes related to the presence/absence of optic neuritis (ON). Methods Spectral-domain OCT was applied to examine eyes from 36 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), comprising 11 with BMS and 25 with RRMS, and 34 HCs. Results The RNFL and GCL were significantly thinner in eyes previously affected by ON, irrespective of the type of MS (i.e., BMS or RRMS), than in HCs. Significant thinning of the GCL was also observed in non-ON RRMS (and not non-ON BMS) compared to HCs. Correspondingly, a significant association between disease duration and thinning rates of the RNFL and GCL was observed only in non-ON RRMS (-0.54 +/- 0.24 and -0.43 +/- 0.21 mu m/year, mean SE; pless than0.05 for both), and not in non-ON BMS (-0.11 +/- 0.27 and -0.24 +/- 0.24 mu m/year). Conclusions The RNFL and GCL were thinner in both ON- and non-ON MS, but the change was more pronounced in ON MS, irrespective of the MS subtype studied herein. GCL thinning and the thinning rate of both the GCL and RNFL were less pronounced in non-ON BMS than in non-ON RRMS. These findings may help to predict the course of BMS.