The relationship between optical coherence tomography and magnetic resonance imaging measurements in people with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Several studies show that optical coherence tomography (OCT) metrics e with cognition, disability, and brain structure in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). This review the correlation between OCT parameters and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements in PwMS. Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science was performed, including studies published in English up to November 29, 2024 to identify studies reporting quantitative data on the correlation between baseline OCT parameters and MRI measurements in PwMS. The meta-analysis was performed using R software version 4.4.0. Results: From 4931 studies, 68 studies on 6168 PwMS (67.4 % female) were included. The most significant correlations were found between peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness and lower T1 lesion volume r = −0.42 (95 % CI: −0.52 to −0.31, p-value <0.001, I² = 24 %), greater thalamic volume r = 0.39 (95 % CI: 0.17 to 0.61, p-value <0.001, I² = 81 %), and lower T2 lesion volume r = −0.37 (95 % CI: −0.54 to −0.21, p-value <0.001, I² = 85 %), respectively. Additionally, lower macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL) thickness showed the most significant correlations with positive and lower thalamic volume r = 0.37 (95 % CI: 0.1 to 0.64, p-value = 0.008, I² = 88 %), and positive and lower grey matter volume (GMV) 0.33 (95 % CI: 0.15 to 0.52, p-value <0.001, I² = 81 %), respectively. Conclusion: pRNFL and mGCIPL thickness are correlated with MRI measurements, suggesting that OCT can serve as a non-invasive, cost-effective, and complementary tool to MRI for enhancing the exploring of brain structural changes in PwMS.