Abstract
Purpose :
This is a retrospective, observational study to evaluate single layer retinal volumes using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) between eyes with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) toxicity and controls to better understand changes in the various retinal layers in
Methods :
Using a previously validated algorithm, automated volumetric analysis of the ganglion cell layer (GC), inner plexiform layer (IPL), inner nuclear layer (INL), and outer retina [outer plexiform layer to retinal pigment epithelium (OPL-RPE)] layers from the SD-OCT macular cube were compared in three sets of 14 patients: patients with a clinical diagnosis of HCQ toxicity, age-matched patients taking HCQ but not manifesting overt toxicity, and age-matched controls.
Results :
The GC (p=0.01), IPL (p=0.004), INL (p<0.001), and OPL-RPE (p<0.001) volumes were significantly reduced in HCQ toxicity eyes relative to the HCQ exposure eyes. There were no significant inner and outer retinal volume differences between the HCQ exposure group and group with no HCQ use (p > 0.05 for all layers). Increasing disease severity correlated with increasing volume loss in the inner (2.27 mm3 in early disease vs. 1.78 mm3 in advanced retinopathy, p = 0.02) retina.
Conclusions :
HCQ toxicity appears to result in both outer and inner retinal volumetric thinning compared to age-matched controls and patients taking HCQ but not manifesting toxicity.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.