Retinal Ganglion Cell Layer Thinning Followed By Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thinning In Patients with Uveitis

Abstract

Ritsuko Yamada, Kazuro Yabuki, Tadayuki Nishid, Ei-ich Okada and Nobuhisa Mizuki

In the model of experimentally induced ischemia- reperfusion injury, retinal ganglion cells (RGC) expressing the gene AP-1 result apoptosis. The inflammation mediators, such as TNF-α, IL-1β, etc. lead RGC to apoptosis, that may lead the thinning of the retinal ganglion cell layer (RGCL) followed by the optic nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning. In his study we observed retinal ganglion cell and optic nerve fiber layer thinning in patients with various uveitis, that the pathological features appear obliterative vasculitis, using the optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging analyses. Subjects were 182 eyes of 91 uveitis patients without glaucoma. Comparison were patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG). Image analyses were conducted with 3D OCT-2000. As a result average RGCL thickness values in the patients with uveitis were significantly(p<0.01) thinner than those in healthies. Cycle scan findings of RNFL around the optic disc in the patients with uveitis showed significant thinning especially at nasal side. The retinal ganglion cell layer thinning followed by the retinal nerve fiber thinning in the patients with various uveitis was observed, and the thinning was similar to that in patients with glaucoma. The observation of RGCL and RNFL thickness may be useful for the diagnosis and the follow-up of uveitis

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