2Uz. Dr., Adana Eğitim Araştırma Şehir Hastanesi, Pediatrik Hematoloji-Onkoloji Kliniği, Adana, Türkiye Purpose: Hypoxic or ischemic diseases can cause a deterioration in the structure of the retina and choroid. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether there are differences in subfoveal choroidal thickness (SCT), central foveal thickness (CFT), peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness of patients with beta thalassemia major (?-TM) receiving deferasirox treatment.
Materials and Methods: The study included 35 patients with ?-TM and 35 age and sex matched healthy children as a control group. The age interval for both groups was 6-18 years. SCT, CFT, RNFL and GCC thickness were measured by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) compared with control group. Serum iron (Fe), ferritin and hemoglobin (Hb) levels were recorded.
Results: There was no statistically significant difference in age, visual acuity, refraction error, the intraocular pressure between the groups. The mean superior GCC value was 99,1±2,26 ?m, inferior GCC was 102,87±3,06 ?m in the thalassemia group. In the control group, it was 132,77±4,22 ?m and 130,03±3,61 ?m respectively (p<0,001). The mean SCT and peripapillary RNFL thickness were signifi cantly lower in patients with ?-TM than in the healthy controls (p<0,001) (p<0,05).
Conclusion: In patients with thalassemia major, there is a decrease in GCC thickness in addition to SCT and RNFL thickness. This result may have occurred as a result of the disease itself, or the side effect of deferasirox. Presence of severe anemia, hypoxia and excessive iron in ?-TM can disrupt the structure of the RNFL and GCC layer that leads to neurodegeneration.
Keywords : Ganglion cell complex thickness, iron overload; peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer, subfoveal choroidal thickness, thalassemia major