Study of Visual Pathways to Understand Nerve Damage in Inflammatory and Demyelinating Diseases of the Central Nervous System

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating neurodegenerative processes in neuroinflammatory diseases of the central nervous system such as multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders, and anti-MOG antibody-associated disorders. These conditions involve inflammation and damage to brain, optic nerve, and spinal cord tissues, affecting both white and grey matter. The study aims to better understand how these processes lead to clinical disability by using the visual pathways as a model to measure nerve loss and explore underlying mechanisms, including possible vascular involvement. The study involves patients experiencing an acute episode of optic neuritis who will be prospectively followed in a single group. Researchers will use various tools such as MRI sequences, optical coherence tomography angiography, pupillometry, and visual cognition evaluations to analyze neurodegeneration from structural and functional perspectives. Assessments will take place at inclusion, 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months to track changes over time. Participants will undergo detailed clinical exams, imaging scans, retinal and vascular assessments, and visual acuity tests throughout the study period. Researchers will measure outcomes including optic nerve sheath enhancement on MRI, retinal nerve layer atrophy, retinal microvascular changes, and brain lesion volumes. Safety and progression will be monitored with repeated evaluations up to 12 months after the acute event. The total study duration for participants is one year, focusing on understanding neurodegeneration in optic neuritis and related disorders.

VIsual Pathways Model in Neuro-inflammatory Disorders