Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that preferentially targets the optic nerves and spinal cord. The clinical presentation may suggest multiple sclerosis (MS), but a highly specific serum autoantibody against the astrocytic water channel aquaporin-4 present in up to 80% of NMO patients enables distinction from MS. Optic neuritis may occur in either condition resulting in neuro-anatomical retinal changes. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has become a useful tool for analyzing retinal damage both in MS and NMO. Numerous studies showed that optic neuritis in NMO typically results in more severe retinal nerve fiber ...

Optic neuritis is an inflammatory optic neuropathy that affects many patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) at some point during their disease course. Differentiation of acute episodes of MS-associated optic neuritis from other autoimmune and inflammatory optic neuropathies is vital for treatment choice and further patient management, but is not always straightforward. Over the past decade, a number of new imaging, laboratory and electrophysiological techniques have entered the clinical arena. To date, however, no consensus guidelines have been devised to specify how and when these techniques can be most rationally applied for the diagnostic work-up of patients with acute optic neuritis ...

We have come a long way When, more than 2500 years ago, Thales of Milet (624–547 BC) claimed that nature was ruled by laws and not by gods, he changed the world. 1 Such a concept allowed for the discovery and mathematical proof of impersonal causation of what, until then, had been a mystery ruled by unpredictable gods. Indeed, ever since then the understanding of nature—today we would call it the natural sciences—has become a major activity of mankind. With this strategy, we have come a long way. Initially, it allowed us to use the position of ...

A 72-year-old female with a history of sleep apnoea syndrome was referred to the Andreas Gruentzig Catheterisation Laboratories for catheter-based renal nerve ablation (RNA) due to drug-resistant, uncontrolled hypertension. After intravenously loading with aspirin, the RNA was obtained using the first generation multi-electrode EnligHTNTM system (St. Jude Medical, Westford, MA, USA) delivering 8 ablation runs on both the left and the right renal artery. Before and after the RNA procedure, optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed using the C7-XR imaging system (LightLab Imaging, Inc., Westford, MA, USA) with a non-occlusive technique and a single-mode optical fibre catheter (frequency domain-OCT-catheter, DragonFlyTM ...

A 78-year-old female was referred to the Andreas Gruentzig Catheterization Laboratories suffering from angina pain CCS II. Coronary angiography demonstrated a bifurcation lesion in the middle left anterior descending and the first diagonal branch ( Panel A ). Based on these findings, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was performed with implantation of a

Abstract  The purpose of this study was to compare inter-observer agreement of Stratus™ OCT versus Spectralis™ OCT image grading in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Thirty eyes with neovascular AMD were examined with Stratus™ OCT and Spectralis™ OCT. Four different scan protocols were used for imaging. Three observers graded the images for the presence of various pathologies. Inter-observer agreement between OCT models was assessed by calculating intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC). In Stratus™ OCT highest interobserver agreement was found for subretinal fluid (ICC: 0.79), and in Spectralis™ OCT for intraretinal cysts (IRC) (ICC: 0.93). Spectralis™ OCT showed ...

Background. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has facilitated characterisation of retinal alterations in MS patients. Only scarce and in part conflicting data exists on different MS subtypes. Objective. To analyse patterns of retinal changes in different subtypes of MS with latest spectral-domain technology. Methods. In a three-centre cross-sectional study 414 MS patients and 94 healthy controls underwent spectral-domain OCT examination. Results. Eyes of MS patients without a previous optic neuritis showed a significant reduction of both retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness and total macular volume (TMV) compared to healthy controls independent of the MS subtype (P < 0.001 for all ...

In this issue of EuroIntervention, Two interesting image reports describe OCT appearance of restenotic tissue of sirolimus-eluting stents and both refer to the "black hole" phenomenon that was first described as an observation in IVUS-studies of restenotic tissue of patients after radioactive stent implantion or brachytherapy.