Publication: Evaluation of retinal nerve fibre layer thickness and choroidal thickness in parkinson disease patients
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Date
2022
Authors
Sheng, Ng Kwang
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Abstract
Introduction Parkinson Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterised by specific motor features. Visual symptoms are also frequently involved. The human retina is considered part of the central nervous system in humans. Choroid is the ocular vascular layer that plays an important role in retina function. Anatomical changes in the retina and choroid may occur in patients diagnosed with neurodegenerative disorders such as PD. Retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness and choroidal thickness (CT) could be additional useful parameters to diagnose PD. By conducting this study, we hope to highlight the potential of RNFL thickness and CT analysis as neurodegenerative biomarkers for PD. Objective To evaluate the RNFL thickness and CT in PD patients. Methodology A comparative cross-sectional, hospital-based study was conducted at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. There were 39 PD patients and 39 normal controls recruited. These 2 groups were gender and age matched. Subjects that fulfilled the inclusion criteria underwent ocular examinations and optical coherence tomography (OCT) examinations in the right eye for peripapillary RNFL thickness and CT evaluation. Independent t-test, chi-square, ANCOVA, and Pearson’s correlation were used in the statistical analysis. Results There was statistically significant reduction of RNFL thickness in average (adjusted mean 88.87μm; 95% CI = 86.36, 91.38 vs 94.82μm; 95% CI = 92.32, 97.33; P = 0.001), superior (adjusted mean 110.08μm; 95% CI = 106.07, 114.09 vs 119.10μm; 95% CI = 115.09, 123.11; P = 0.002) and temporal (adjusted mean 63.77μm; 95% CI = 60.64, 66.90 vs 70.36μm; 95% CI = 67.23, 73.49; P = 0.004) in PD group compared to controls. There was significant reduction of central subfoveal CT (adjusted mean 271.13μm; 95% CI = 264.67, 277.60 vs 285.10μm; 95% CI = 278.63, 291.56; P = 0.003) in PD group compared to controls. There was significant weak negative correlation between the duration of PD with average RNFL thickness in PD patients (r = -0.354, P = 0.027). There was significant moderate negative correlation between the duration of PD with central subfoveal CT in PD patients (r = -0.493, P = 0.001), and weak negative correlation between the stage of PD with central subfoveal CT in PD patients (r = -0.380, P = 0.017). Conclusion The mean of average, superior and temporal RNFL thickness and CT was significantly lower in PD group than controls.
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Keywords
Parkinson Disease , retinal nerve fibre layer thickness