Abstract
Purpose: :
Heidelberg retinal tomography (HRT ®) and scanning laser polarimetry (Gdx ®) were used to investigate if retinal nerve fiber layer thinning could be observed in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive subjects without retinopathy or optic neuropathy that were using antiretroviral medications.
Methods: :
HRT® measurements from an HIV–positive cohort (n=26 eyes) on antiretroviral therapy were compared to those of a matched HIV–negative control (n=26 eyes). Gdx ® parameters from the same HIV–positive cohort (n=12 eyes) and the HIV–negative control (n=10 eyes) were concurrently analyzed. The Van der Waerden nonparametric test for statistical analysis was employed.
Results: :
Significantly reduced mean values for the HRT® height variation contour (Prob > .012) and HRT® mean retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness (Prob > .005) were observed in HIV–positive subjects. The mean values were also significantly reduced for the Gdx ® superior maximum (Prob > .021) and inferior maximum (Prob > .043) in the HIV–positive cohort. Significance was independent of age, sex, and race.
Conclusions: :
HRT® and Gdx ® RNFL thickness parameters appear significantly reduced in HIV–positive subjects without retinopathy or optic neuropathy using antiretroviral therapy. Lack of correlation between CD4 counts, viral load, number of antiretroviral medications used or years from diagnosis of HIV and RFNL thinning, suggest other factors associated with HIV infection may be involved in the RNFL loss.
Keywords: imaging/image analysis: clinical • AIDS/HIV • antiviral drugs