The Usefulness of the Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate and C-reactive Protein for the Differential Diagnosis of Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy in the Era of Microinflammation

ABSTRACT

Purpose

The presence of a microinflammatory response is one of the possible pathological mechanisms related to the development of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAAION), a common cause of optic neuropathy in old age.

We tested whether individuals with NAAION harbor a heightened microinflammatory response compared to controls.

Methods

We measured the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in NAAION patients during hospital admission and in four matched controls for each patient, retrieved from a large cohort of 20,000 apparently healthy individuals.

Results

We included 128 NAAION patients and 512 controls. No significant differences were found between patients and controls regarding the inflammatory biomarkers.

Conclusions

This is the first report showing a lack of difference in ESR and hs-CRP levels between NAAION patients and matched controls, suggesting NAAION is not associated with a heightened inflammatory response, such as the one associated with multiple atherothrombotic risk factors.

KEYWORDS:

• C reactive protein
• erythrocyte sedimentation rate
• optic neuropathy
• microinflammation
• non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.