An Evaluation of Choroidal and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thicknesses Using SD-OCT in Children with Childhood IgA Vasculitis

Background: We aimed to evaluate choroidal and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thicknesses in children undergoing the childhood IgA vasculitis (IgAV). Methods: Fifty-two patients with IgAV aged 1-6 years and 54 healthy children were included. Cases' age, sex, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), RNFL thicknesses, and choroidal thickness values were recorded. Results: Median foveal center choroidal thickness was 374.0 mu m (315.0 to 452.0 mu m) in the IgAV group and 349.5 mu m (285.0 to 442.0 mu m) in the control group (p = 0.001). Median average RNFL thickness was 110.0 mu m (91.0 to 134.0 mu m) in the IgAV group and 104.0 mu m (89.0 to 117.0 mu m) in the control group (p < 0.001). Choroidal and RNFL thicknesses were significantly greater in all quadrants in the IgAV group than in the control group. No correlation was determined between ESR or CRP and foveal center choroidal and average RNFL thicknesses. Conclusions: Our findings show that choroidal and RNFL thicknesses increased significantly in children undergoing childhood IgA vasculitis compared to the healthy control group. These findings show that the choroid and RNFL are also affected by the inflammatory process in IgAV, which is a systemic vasculitis. We think that the choroidal and RNFL thicknesses can be used as a biomarker for childhood IgAV.

Automated summary

The choroidal and RNFL thicknesses were significantly increased in children with IgA vasculitis compared to healthy controls. However, there was no correlation between ESR or CRP levels and choroidal and RNFL thicknesses.