Choroidal thickness in systemic lupus erythematosus patients - A spectral domain optical coherence tomography study

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disorder which often affects the choroidal vessels in the eye and these manifestations may precede the systemic manifestation. Aim: To measure the choroidal thickness (CT) in SLE patients using spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in enhanced depth imaging (EDI) mode and correlate it with the presence of hypertension, lupus nephritis (LN), treatment with hydroxychloroquine, and with corticosteroid. Settings and Design: Observational and cross-sectional study. Subjects and Methods: Patients above the age of 18 years with the diagnosis of SLE were included in the study. In 51 patients, CT was measured with 6 mm × 6 mm scan centered on the fovea using SD-OCT scan (EDI mode). Results: Out of 51 patients, mean CT value was: Subfoveal 363.96 ± 59.67, 500 μm temporal 305.69 ± 54.91, 1000 μm temporal 280.55 ± 51.08, 500 μm nasal 308.78 ± 60.71, 1000 μm nasal 287.53 ± 54.78. CT in hypertensives and nonhypertensives as well as patients with LN and without LN was statistically insignificant. CT in patients treated with hydroxychloroquine and not treated with hydroxychloroquine was statistically insignificant at all locations except 500 μm nasal and 1000 μm temporal. CT in patients treated with corticosteroids and not treated with corticosteroids was statistically insignificant. Conclusions: There is a significant increase in CT in SLE patients. The presence of hypertension is unrelated to CT. Patients taking hydroxychloroquine had significantly lower CT at 500 μm and 1000 μm temporal, indicating an effect of hydroxychloroquine on CT at the temporal side. Corticosteroids intake showed no significant effect on CT. CT may serve as a biomarker for SLE.