Posters

Longitudinal evaluation of central corneal thickness in patients with systemic sclerosis

Poster Details

First Author: T. Valadão BRAZIL

Co Author(s):    N. Maes   R. Souza   B. Gomes   N. Garcia   H. Moraes        

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To investigate the longitudinal changes of central corneal thickness (CCT) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and to elucidate whether it contributes to misinterpretation of intraocular pressure (IOP) in this group of patients.

Setting:

Department of Ophthalmology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazi

Methods:

Twenty patients with SSc were examined at two visits 5 years apart. A control group comprised of 20 healthy patients similar in age and sex was also evaluated. Age, sex, race, subtype of SSc, disease duration, autoantibody profile, use of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), best corrected visual acuity, spherical equivalent refraction, IOP and CCT were recorded. IOP was assessed by applanation tonometry and CCT by ultrasonic pachymetry.

Results:

CCT decreased by 7.2 ± 10.9 µm, 95% confidence interval (CI): -2.1 to -12.2 µm, between the first and second measurements (p=0.008) in patients with systemic sclerosis and by -2.4 µm (p=0.39, 95% CI -8.0 to 3.3 µm) in control group. Considering patient/s with systemic sclerosis, CCT decreased by a mean of -11.6 ± 8.7 µm,95% CI:-4.3 to -19.0 µm (p=0.007) among those taking disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) at second visit and by - 4.2 ± 11.4 µm,95% CI:-3.0 to -11.5 µm (p=0.2) in patients not taking any DMARDs. There was not a statistically significant change in IOP between the two visits for either systemic sclerosis (p=0.84) or control group (p=0.29).

Conclusions:

CCT decreased with time in systemic sclerosis. However, the slight rates of thinning observed are unlikely to considerably influence applanation tonometry or clinical decision-making over the short to intermediate term.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE