Peripapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer and Ganglion Cell-Inner Plexiform Layer Thickness in Children with Familial Mediterranean Fever

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the thickness of the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and retinal ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) in children with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF).

Methods: The study included 39 FMF patients and 36 healthy controls. After detailed ocular examination, the thickness of the peripapillary RNFL and GCIPL were measured by spectral domain optic coherence tomography (SD-OCT). All measurements were taken from the right eye of the patients and controls. According to their disease severity score (DSS), the patients were divided into two groups: patients with DSS ≤5 and those with DSS >5.

Results: There were no statistically significant differences in peripapillary RNFL and retinal GCIPL thickness between patients with FMF and controls.

Conclusion: It appears that FMF does not affect the RNFL and GCIPL thickness.

Keywords: Childhood disease; disease severity score; familial Mediterranean fever; ganglion cell inner plexiform layer; retinal nerve fiber layer.