Evaluation of posterior segment changes in pediatric asthma patients with and without inhaled corticosteroid therapy

TL;DR

This study found that pediatric asthma patients show significant changes in the eye's posterior segment, which may be linked to asthma or inhaled corticosteroid use.

Contribution

The study is the first to evaluate posterior segment changes in pediatric asthma patients using OCT and OCTA, linking them to inflammation markers.

Findings

Asthma patients had reduced subfoveal choroidal thickness and vascular density compared to controls.

Inflammation markers like eosinophil count and CRP correlated with vascular density changes.

OCT and OCTA can detect early microvascular changes in asthma patients, aiding early intervention.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate and compare changes in the posterior segment of pediatric asthma patients, potentially associated with asthma or inhaled corticosteroids. A retrospective analysis was conducted on children aged 7–17 diagnosed with atopic asthma. The participants were categorized into groups: Group 1 (no inhaled corticosteroids) and Group 2 (inhaled corticosteroid treatment). A control group of healthy children was also included. Demographic data, clinical findings, and laboratory results (e.g., eosinophil count, IgE, CRP levels) were collected. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) were used to measure posterior segment parameters. Asthma patients demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in subfoveal choroidal thickness, the superficial capillary plexus in the superior and nasal quadrants, the choriocapillaris in the foveal quadrant, and the peripapillary vascular density in the inferior and superior quadrants compared to controls. Inflammation markers such as eosinophil count and CRP showed significant correlations with changes in vascular density. Asthma, as a chronic inflammatory and hypoxic condition, can significantly affect posterior segment parameters, leading to potential visual function impairments in children. Regular monitoring with OCT and OCTA can help detect early microvascular changes, allowing for timely interventions to preserve visual health.

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