Publication: Evaluation of retinal nerve fiber layer, macula thickness and visual evoked potential in schizophrenia patients
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Date
2022
Authors
Sarah Sathyapriya Tamilarsan
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Abstract
Background Schizophrenia is a neurodegenerative condition, that alters an individual’s perception, thoughts, affects, and behaviour. The retina is considered part of the central nervous system in a human. Thus, there would be anatomical changes in the retina if a patient has been diagnosed with neurodegenerative conditions like schizophrenia. Retinal Nerve Fibre Layer (RNFL), Central Macula Thickness (CMT), and Visual Evoked Potential (VEP) are useful parameters to screen and evaluate the progression of schizophrenia. Objective To evaluate the RNFL, CMT, and VEP measurements in patients with schizophrenia. The correlation between RNFL and CMT with VEP was also conducted in this study. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. 60 schizophrenia subjects in remission and 60 controls were recruited. Candidates that fulfilled the criteria with normal ocular examinations underwent Optical Coherent Tomography for evaluation of RNFL, CMT, and VEP test of the right eye. Results There was a statistically significant reduction in average RNFL thickness (adjusted mean 89.24μm vs 103.50μm, P < 0.001), superior RNFL thickness (adjusted mean 110.86μm vs 132.34μm, P < 0.001), inferior RNFL thickness (adjusted mean 116.41μm vs 125.71μm, P = 0.003), nasal RNFL thickness (adjusted mean 63.21μm vs 75.74μm, P <0.001), and temporal RNFL thickness (adjusted mean 66.28μm vs 80.13μm, P <0.001) in schizophrenia group compared to the control group. As for VEP results, there was a statistically significant delay in latency of P100 with 60-min of arc (adjusted mean 111.16ms vs 102.44ms, P < 0.001) and in P100 with 15-min of arc (adjusted mean 119.16ms vs 114.72ms, P < 0.001) in schizophrenia group compared to control group. There was no significant difference in the CMT in schizophrenia patients compared to the control group (adjusted mean 238.56μm vs 244.44μm, P = 0.262). However, there was no significant correlation between average RNFL thickness and CMT with all parameters of VEP readings among schizophrenia patients. Conclusion Schizophrenia patients have thinner RNFL, and delayed peak latency compared to the controls suggesting neurodegeneration of the optic nerve. However, the macula is preserved.
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Keywords
Retinal Nerve Fibre Layer (RNFL) , Visual Evoked Potential (VEP)