Investigation of early inner retinal layer changes in hydroxychloroquine users without evident retinopathy: A comparative study

IF 3.1 3区医学 Q2 ONCOLOGY

Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy Pub Date : 2025-06-04 DOI:10.1016/j.pdpdt.2025.104662

Mahmut Asfuroğlu , Ahmet Selçuk Çobanoğlu , Yonca Asfuroğlu , Cenk Zeki Fikret , Nil İrem Uçgun Zeki Fikret

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to examine alterations in the macular ganglion cell complex (GCC), peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), and macular vasculature prior to the manifestation of evident outer retinal toxicity in patients receiving hydroxychloroquine (HCQ).

Material-Method

The present comparative cross-sectional study included 42 patients with no evident retinopathy who were taking <5 mg/kg HCQ for rheumatoid arthritis and 41 age-matched healthy subjects. Both groups were analyzed using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT), comprising macular GCC and peripapillary RNFL. Macular vessel density (MVD) analysis was conducted using OCT angiography.

Results

The superior (p = 0.04), inferior (p = 0.01), and total GCC (p = 0.02) values were significantly lower in the study group than in the control group. However, the RNFL and MVD measurements demonstrated no statistically significant disparities in any of the quadrants between the two groups (p > 0.05). The subgroup analysis revealed that patients who had received HCQ for ≥ 8 years demonstrated significantly lower superior, inferior, and total GCC thickness, in addition to thinner RNFL values in superior quadrants when compared to patients who had received HCQ for a period of < 8 years and the control group.

Conclusion

The present study demonstrated that after eight years of HCQ use at recommended doses, significant thinning of the inner retinal layers was observed in eyes exhibiting no evident retinal toxicity. It may be beneficial to include an inner retinal layer assessment in individuals chronically using HCQ as part of a comprehensive ophthalmic screening process.

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无明显视网膜病变羟氯喹使用者早期视网膜内层改变的研究：一项比较研究。

目的：本研究旨在探讨羟氯喹（HCQ）患者在出现明显视网膜外毒性前黄斑神经节细胞复合体（GCC）、乳头周围视网膜神经纤维层（RNFL）和黄斑血管的变化。材料-方法：本比较横断面研究纳入42例无明显视网膜病变的患者，结果：研究组的优（p = 0.04）、优（p = 0.01）和总GCC （p = 0.02）值均显著低于对照组。然而，RNFL和MVD的测量结果显示，两组在任何象限上都没有统计学上的显著差异（p < 0.05）。亚组分析显示，与接受HCQ < 8年的患者和对照组相比，接受HCQ≥8年的患者表现出明显较低的上象限、下象限和总GCC厚度，以及较薄的上象限RNFL值。结论：本研究表明，在推荐剂量下使用HCQ 8年后，在眼睛中观察到视网膜内层明显变薄，但没有明显的视网膜毒性。将长期使用HCQ的个体的视网膜内层评估作为全面眼科筛查过程的一部分可能是有益的。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy ONCOLOGY-

CiteScore

5.80

自引率

24.20%

发文量

509

审稿时长

50 days

期刊介绍： Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy is an international journal for the dissemination of scientific knowledge and clinical developments of Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy in all medical specialties. The journal publishes original articles, review articles, case presentations, "how-to-do-it" articles, Letters to the Editor, short communications and relevant images with short descriptions. All submitted material is subject to a strict peer-review process.