Evaluation of corneal and lens densitometry with Pentacam HR in children with Nephrotic Syndrome: A controlled, prospective study

Background: This study aimed to compare the corneal and lens densitometry values between children with Nephrotic Syndrome (NS) and healthy individuals. Methods: This cross-sectional comparative study included 23 patients with NS and 26 healthy controls. Corneal topographic and corneal and lens densitometric values were measured using Pentacam HR. Densitometry measurements in different layers were analyzed and compared between groups. Correlations between steroid cumulative dose, age at diagnosis of the disease, duration of disease, number of relapses, and patients' densitometries values were evaluated. Results: The measurements of the keratometry, horizontal white-to-white, and iridocorneal angle values were significantly different between groups (p < 0.05). The 0-2 mm and 2-6 mm anterior corneal densitometry values were significantly higher in NS patients. (p = 0.009 and p = 0.033, respectively). The lens densitometry values of all zones were higher in the eyes with NS but there was no statistically significant difference from the healthy control eyes (p > 0.05). There was a positive strong correlation between the cumulative steroid dose and the posterior lens zone densitometry, a positive weak correlation between the number of attacks and anterior corneal densitometry, and between disease duration and central corneal densitometry and average lens density. Conclusion: In eyes with NS, changes occur in corneal and lens densitometry in correlation with disease duration, number of attacks, and cumulative steroid dose. Significant density changes were detected especially in the anterior cornea and central 0-6 mm area.

Automated summary

This study compared corneal and lens densitometry values between children with Nephrotic Syndrome (NS) and healthy individuals, finding significant differences in the anterior cornea and central area. Correlations were also found between the cumulative steroid dose, number of attacks, disease duration, and densitometry values.