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Optical coherence tomography identifies outer retina thinning in frontotemporal degeneration
Kim BJ, Irwin DJ, Song D, Daniel E, Leveque JD, Raquib AR, Pan W, Ying GS et al.. Neurology, 2017-09-08
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Objective Whereas Alzheimer disease (AD) is associated with inner retina thinning visualized by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), we sought to determine if the retina has a distinguishing biomarker for frontotemporal degeneration (FTD). Methods Using a cross-sectional design, we examined retinal structure in 38 consecutively enrolled patients with FTD and 44 controls using a standard SD-OCT protocol. Retinal layers were segmented with the Iowa Reference Algorithm.
Key findings
- Methods Using a cross-sectional design, we examined retinal structure in 38 consecutively enrolled patients with FTD and 44 controls using a standard SD-OCT protocol.
- Retinal layers were segmented with the Iowa Reference Algorithm.
- Subgroups of highly predictive molecular pathology (tauopathy, TAR DNA-binding protein 43, unknown) were determined by clinical criteria, genetic markers, and a CSF biomarker (total tau: β-amyloid) to exclude presumed AD.
- We excluded eyes with poor image quality or confounding diseases.
Why it matters
Using optical coherence tomography, this cross-sectional study compared retinal structure in 38 patients with frontotemporal degeneration and 44 controls. It concerns a possible retinal marker for frontotemporal degeneration, not the treatment, cure, or prevention of Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Participants46
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 53/100
Published in a leading specialty journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Neurology: journal h-index 525 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2017 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 46 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 57 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 5.2 citations a year over 11 year(s) since 2017 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 20 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Murray Grossman: h-index 119 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of Pennsylvania: institution h-index 1,859 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 28887373) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 53 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000004500
- PubMed: 28887373
- Original source →
- Free full text: PubMed Central →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Kim, B. J., Irwin, D. J., Song, D., Daniel, E., Leveque, J. D., Raquib, A. R., et al. (2017). Optical coherence tomography identifies outer retina thinning in frontotemporal degeneration. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0000000000004500
Vancouver
Kim BJ, Irwin DJ, Song D, Daniel E, Leveque JD, Raquib AR, et al. Optical coherence tomography identifies outer retina thinning in frontotemporal degeneration. Neurology. 2017. doi:10.1212/wnl.0000000000004500. PMID: 28887373.
BibTeX
@article{kim2017-28887373,
author = {Kim, B. J. and Irwin, D. J. and Song, D. and Daniel, E. and Leveque, J. D. and Raquib, A. R. and Pan, W. and Ying, G. S. and others},
title = {{Optical coherence tomography identifies outer retina thinning in frontotemporal degeneration}},
journal = {Neurology},
year = {2017},
doi = {10.1212/wnl.0000000000004500},
pmid = {28887373},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0000000000004500}
}
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