Abnormal Retinal Microvasculature Found In Active Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Different Perspective Of Microvascular Health

Background/aim: We aimed to assess the association between retinal vascular caliber (RVC) scores and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Materials and methods: Forty-seven RA patients, 32 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, and 45 healthy people were enrolled. RA and SLE patients were subdivided into groups according to C- reactive protein (CRP) levels. RA patients were also grouped according to Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS-28). Fundus photography was performed for all patients. RVC was summarized as the central retinal artery and vein equivalents (CRAE and CRVE). Results: Mean CRVE for RA patients was 213.3 +/- 17.8 mu m compared with 209.2 +/- 14.1 mu m for SLE and 217.5 +/- 26.2 mu m for the control group (P = 0.17). RVC scores did not differ between the CRP-high and CRP-low groups. As the RA disease activity increased, the widening of CRVE became more prominent and statistically significant. When the DAS-28 > 5.1 (CRVE, 220.4 (211.8-246.5) mu m) group and DAS-28 15 3.2 and DAS-28 <= 3.2 groups (P= 0.05). Conclusion: CRVE, which reflects systemic inflammation and possibly increased cardiovascular risk, was significantly increased in active RA patients. The association between retinal venular widening and disease activity, regardless of CRP, may be a sign that RA-related inflammation may have systemic vascular effects even with normal levels of CRP.WoSScopu

Normative Values For Optical Coherence Tomography Parameters In Healthy Children And Interexaminer Agreement For Choroidal Thickness Measurements

Purpose: To (a) determine the normative values for optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters such as central macular thickness, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, and choroidal thickness in healthy children; (b) investigate the relationships of these parameters with axial length, central corneal thickness, refractive errors, and intraocular pressure; and (c) determine interexaminer agreement for choroidal thickness measurements. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 120 healthy children aged 8-15 years underwent detailed ophthalmological examination and OCT measurements. Choroidal thickness was measured at three separate locations by two independent examiners. Results: The mean global retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was 98.75 +/- 9.45 mu m (79.0-121.0). The mean central macular thickness was 232.29 +/- 29.37 mu m (190.0-376.0). The mean subfoveal choroidal thickness obtained by examiner 1 was 344.38 +/- 68.83 mu m and that obtained by examiner 2 was 344.04 +/- 68.92 mu m. Intere-xaminer agreement was between 99.6%-99.8% for choroidal thickness at three separate locations. Central macular thickness increased with axial length (r=0.245, p=0.007). Choroidal thickness increased with age (r=0.291, p=0.001) and decreased with axial length (r=-0.191, p=0.037). Global retinal nerve fiber layer thickness decreased with axial length (r=-0.247, p=0.007) and increased with central corneal thickness (r=0.208, p=0.022). Global retinal nerve fiber layer thickness positively correlated with choroidal thickness (r=0.354, p < 0.001). Global retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (r=0.223, p=0.014) and choroidal thickness (r=0.272, p=0.003) increased with the spherical equivalent (D). Conclusions: Optical coherence tomography parameters showed a wide range of variability in children. Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, central macular thickness, and choroidal thickness were found to be either inter-related or correlated with age, central corneal thickness, axial length, and refractive errors. Furthermore, manual measurements of choroidal thickness showed high interexaminer agreement. Because normative values for optical coherence tomography parameters differed in children, the measurements should be interpreted according to an age-appropriate database.WoSScopu

Choroidal Evaluation In Patients With Childhood Polyarteritis Nodosa (Pan) Andadenosine Deaminase-2 Deficiency (Dada-2)

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