Evaluation of the Choroidal Thickness and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Patients with Vasovagal Syncope.

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate choroidal and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thicknesses in individuals with vasovagal syncope (VVS). Method: A total of 67 consecutive patients with VVS and 61 healthy control subjects were enrolled this study. The choroidal thickness (CT) at the fovea, the nasal to fovea thickness, and the temporal to fovea thickness were measured, alongside pRNLFT measurements assessed by swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). Results: The mean foveal CT (408.7 ± 92.5 μm vs. 342.1 ± 60.2 μm, p < 0.01), the mean nasal CT (385.2 ± 88.3 μm vs. 329.2 ± 47.6 μm, p < 0.001), and the mean temporal CT (379.5 ± 51.6 μm vs. 321.48 ± 43.2 μm, p < 0.03) were statistically thicker in patients with VVS compared to the healthy controls. There was no statistically significant difference in the global pRNFLT measurements and all quadrants between the study groups. Conclusions: The CT in all regions was found to be thicker in patients with VVS compared to the healthy controls, while there were no differences in pRNFLT values. These results suggest that choroidal circulation might be affected by local neurotransmitter alterations in patients with VVS.