June 2023
Volume 64, Issue 8
Open Access
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   June 2023
Longitudinal Assessment of Ocular Biomarkers of Gulf War Illness
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • James Lai
    University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, United States
    University of Miami Health System Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, Florida, United States
  • Karthik Kalahasty
    University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, United States
    University of Miami Health System Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, Florida, United States
  • Yonghoon Lee
    University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, United States
    University of Miami Health System Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, Florida, United States
  • Mak Benjamin Djulbegovic
    University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, United States
  • Kimberly Cabrera
    Ophthalmology, Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, Florida, United States
  • parastou pakravan
    University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, United States
  • Courtney Frances Goodman
    University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, United States
  • Colin Kim
    University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, United States
  • Raquel Goldhardt
    University of Miami Health System Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, Florida, United States
    Ophthalmology, Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, Florida, United States
  • Anat Galor
    University of Miami Health System Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, Florida, United States
    Ophthalmology, Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, Florida, United States
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships   James Lai None; Karthik Kalahasty None; Yonghoon Lee None; Mak Djulbegovic None; Kimberly Cabrera None; parastou pakravan None; Courtney Goodman None; Colin Kim None; Raquel Goldhardt None; Anat Galor None
  • Footnotes
    Support  None
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science June 2023, Vol.64, 4678. doi:
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      James Lai, Karthik Kalahasty, Yonghoon Lee, Mak Benjamin Djulbegovic, Kimberly Cabrera, parastou pakravan, Courtney Frances Goodman, Colin Kim, Raquel Goldhardt, Anat Galor; Longitudinal Assessment of Ocular Biomarkers of Gulf War Illness. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2023;64(8):4678.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose : Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a symptom-based disease with neuro-inflammatory and neuro-degenerative contributors. Objective biomarkers of this disease are missing, and this is an important avenue of research. We previously noted differences in ocular coherence tomography (OCT) metrics in individuals with versus without GWI symptoms. In this investigation, we performed a prospective case control study to examine whether OCT metrics differentially change over time in this population.

Methods : 101 Gulf War Era veterans were split into groups based on the presence or absence of GWI symptoms. Information on demographics, co-morbidities, and deployment were also captured. All individuals underwent baseline OCT imaging and 89 had repeat OCT imaging 1 year later. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 28.0. Change in OCT metrics over the 1-year period was calculated and examined between the groups with independent t-tests. Change in OCT metrics over time was also evaluated as a predictor of GWI symptoms when examined with multivariable forward stepwise logstic regression analysis.

Results : The mean age of the population (n=89) was 55±4, 91% self-identified as male, 52.8% as White, and 64% as Hispanic. When comparing individuals with versus without GWI symptoms, there were no significant differences in OCT metric changes between groups. When considering deployment status, deployed versus non-deployed veterans had a greater decrease in the superior GCL-IPL thickness (-3.33 ± 2 vs. 3.81± 2.7 µm, p=0.04). However, these findings did not remain significant when demographics and co-morbidities were considered in a multivariable regression model.

Conclusions : While cross sectional analysis of OCT metrics detected differences in those with versus without GWI symptoms, no differences were detected between the groups with respect to change in OCT metrics over one year. More research is needed to examine if OCT measures (both statically and dynamically) can serve as ocular biomarkers of GWI.

This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.

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