Evaluation of Macular Ganglion Cell-inner Plexiform Layer and Choroid in Psoriasis Patients Using Enhanced Depth Imaging Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

• Published in: Ocular immunology and inflammation Vol. 25; no. 4; pp. 520 - 524
• Main Authors: Ersan, Ismail, Kilic, Sevilay, Arikan, Sedat, Kara, Selcuk, Işik, Selda, Gencer, Baran, Ogretmen, Zerrin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 01.08.2017
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Choroid - pathology; Choroidal thickening; Female; Healthy Volunteers; Humans; Macula Lutea - pathology; macular ganglion cell layer; Male; Middle Aged; Nerve Fibers - pathology; Prospective Studies; Psoriasis - classification; Psoriasis - diagnosis; psoriasis area and severity index; Retinal Ganglion Cells - pathology; systemic inflammation; Tomography, Optical Coherence - methods; tumor necrosis factor alpha; Young Adult; systemic inflammation; psoriasis area and severity index; tumor necrosis factor alpha; macular ganglion cell layer; Choroidal thickening
• ISSN: 0927-3948; 1744-5078; 1744-5078
• DOI: 10.3109/09273948.2016.1150493

Purpose: To evaluate changes in the thickness of the central macula, macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL), and subfoveal choroid in patients with psoriasis using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Methods: The measurements of macular, mGCIPL thicknesses and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) obtained by SD-OCT of psoriasis patients (n = 46). These measurements were compared with those of 50 healthy controls. Results: The macular, mGCIPL, and choroidal thicknesses did not differ between the controls and psoriatic subjects (p>0.05). When the patients were divided into two distinct groups, only the SFCT was significantly thicker in the severe psoriasis group compared with the mild psoriasis group (p = 0.003). Conclusions: These findings suggest that choroidal alterations are seen without macular changes in patients with psoriasis. Severe psoriasis appears to be related to increases in SFCT as a consequence of possible inflammatory cascades that are part of the disease's pathogenesis.