Is anterior segment OCT superior to slit-lamp biomicroscopic examination for Kayser Flesicher ring in Wilson's disease?

OBJECTIVE: Detection of the Kayser-Fleischer (KF) ring in the diagnostic scoring and treatment follow-up of Wilson's Disease (WD) is important. Slit lamp (SL) biomicroscopic examination has traditionally been used in the evaluation of the KF ring. The role of Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography (AS-OCT), which is used in various corneal diseases, in the detection of KF rings has attracted attention in recent years. In our study. we tried to demonstrate the effectiveness of AS-OCT in detecting the KF ring by comparing it with SL biomicroscopic examination. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 64 of 356 patients followed in our outpatient clinic due to WD were included in the study in the order of their admission to the outpatient clinic. The KF ring was evaluated in both eyes by SL-biomicroscopic examination and AS-OCT. Ophthalmic examination, and findings were performed by the same physician. RESULTS: Age range was 18-67 years. mean 33.06 +/- 10.83 years, gender was 39.1% (n: 25) female. At the time of diagnosis, the mean age was 19.48 +/- 9.36 years. range was minimum 5 years and maximum 51 years. Clinical presentation was mixed type involvement n: 18 (28.1%). hepatic involvement n: 32 (50%). neurological involvement n: 14 (21.9%). The follow-up period was 2-257 months (74.6 +/- 76.16). The presence of KF ring was evaluated together with both AS-OCT and slit-lamp examination. the presence of KF could be detected in both AS-OCT and SL biomicroscopic examination in 10 patients (15.6%), in 12 (18.8%) of the cases KF ring is positive in AS-OCT but was negative in Slit-lamp biomicroscopic examination, in 65.6 (n: 42) of the cases OCT and slit-lamp biomicroscopic examination results were negative. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity of AS-OCT in detecting the KF ring was higher than the slit-lamp biomicroscopic examination. AS-OCT can detect early stage of KF rings in Wilson's Disease patients, so that diagnosis and treatment accuracy can be evaluated effectively.

Automated summary

The study demonstrates that AS-OCT has a higher sensitivity in detecting KF rings compared to slit-lamp biomicroscopic examination. It can effectively detect the early stage of KF rings in patients with Wilson's Disease.