Retinal nerve fibre changes in sports-related repetitive traumatic brain injury.

Kelman, JC; Hodge, C; Stanwell, P; Mustafic, N; Fraser, CL

Retinal nerve fibre changes in sports-related repetitive traumatic brain injury.

Kelman, JC Hodge, C

Stanwell, P Mustafic, N Fraser, CL

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Publisher:: WILEY
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Clinical & experimental ophthalmology, 2020, 48, (2), pp. 204-211
Issue Date:: 2020

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Kelman, JC
dc.contributor.author	Hodge, C https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0516-6486
dc.contributor.author	Stanwell, P
dc.contributor.author	Mustafic, N
dc.contributor.author	Fraser, CL
dc.date.accessioned	2020-09-15T06:24:43Z
dc.date.available	2019-10-23
dc.date.available	2020-09-15T06:24:43Z
dc.date.issued	2020
dc.identifier.citation	Clinical & experimental ophthalmology, 2020, 48, (2), pp. 204-211
dc.identifier.issn	1442-6404
dc.identifier.issn	1442-9071
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/142683
dc.description.abstract	IMPORTANCE:There is limited literature on the use of optical coherence tomography in the assessment of retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness in sports-related repetitive mild traumatic brain injury. BACKGROUND:To evaluate RNFL thickness in professional rugby league players. RNFL thinning may serve as a proxy for wider white matter degeneration. DESIGN:Cross-sectional observational study. PARTICIPANTS:Thirteen retired Australian professional rugby league players were recruited. METHODS:Participants underwent binocular optical coherence tomography to measure RNFL thickness. Each participant underwent a complete ophthalmic assessment to exclude concurrent disease. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:RNFL thickness of each eye were compared with a normative database. RESULTS:Participants had played professional Rugby League for 18 years on average and reported sustaining 15 sports-related concussions throughout their career. The RNFL in participants was four micrometres thinner than that of matched normative data. Cohort average RNFL thickness was reduced in 12 out of 14 optical coherence testing parameters. These findings were statistically significant in the left inferonasal [P = .013] and left nasal [P = .006] sectors. There was no statistically significant relationship between RNFL thickness and other visual measures. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE:This study is the first to demonstrate RNFL thinning in a cohort of retired Australian professional Rugby League players. RNFL changes have been shown to correlate with cerebral white matter loss and neurodegeneration. Optical coherence tomography may serve as a safe and economical means of screening for repetitive traumatic brain injury related neurodegeneration in contact sport athletes.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	WILEY
dc.relation.ispartof	Clinical & experimental ophthalmology
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1111/ceo.13673
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	1103 Clinical Sciences, 1113 Opthalmology and Optometry, 1117 Public Health and Health Services
dc.subject.classification	Ophthalmology & Optometry
dc.title	Retinal nerve fibre changes in sports-related repetitive traumatic brain injury.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	48
utslib.location.activity	Australia
utslib.for	1103 Clinical Sciences
utslib.for	1113 Opthalmology and Optometry
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health/GSH.Orthoptics
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	true
dc.date.updated	2020-09-15T06:24:23Z
pubs.issue	2
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	48
utslib.citation.issue	2

Abstract:

IMPORTANCE:There is limited literature on the use of optical coherence tomography in the assessment of retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness in sports-related repetitive mild traumatic brain injury. BACKGROUND:To evaluate RNFL thickness in professional rugby league players. RNFL thinning may serve as a proxy for wider white matter degeneration. DESIGN:Cross-sectional observational study. PARTICIPANTS:Thirteen retired Australian professional rugby league players were recruited. METHODS:Participants underwent binocular optical coherence tomography to measure RNFL thickness. Each participant underwent a complete ophthalmic assessment to exclude concurrent disease. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:RNFL thickness of each eye were compared with a normative database. RESULTS:Participants had played professional Rugby League for 18 years on average and reported sustaining 15 sports-related concussions throughout their career. The RNFL in participants was four micrometres thinner than that of matched normative data. Cohort average RNFL thickness was reduced in 12 out of 14 optical coherence testing parameters. These findings were statistically significant in the left inferonasal [P = .013] and left nasal [P = .006] sectors. There was no statistically significant relationship between RNFL thickness and other visual measures. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE:This study is the first to demonstrate RNFL thinning in a cohort of retired Australian professional Rugby League players. RNFL changes have been shown to correlate with cerebral white matter loss and neurodegeneration. Optical coherence tomography may serve as a safe and economical means of screening for repetitive traumatic brain injury related neurodegeneration in contact sport athletes.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/142683