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Updated: Apr 14, 2026
Quantitative Fundus Autofluorescence for the Evaluation of Retinal Diseases
Published on: March 11, 2016
Effect of inhaled fluticasone propionate on retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in asthmatic children
Selim Dereci1, Ozgur Pirgon1, Mustafa Akcam1
1Department of Pediatrics, S. Demirel University, Faculty of Medicine, Isparta - Turkey.
Insights
Inhaled fluticasone propionate did not cause retinal nerve fiber layer thinning in children with asthma. However, higher eosinophil counts in these children were linked to increased cube average thickness.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatrics
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Corticosteroids are suspected of contributing to retinopathy development.
- Asthma management often involves inhaled corticosteroids like fluticasone propionate.
- Assessing ocular health in pediatric asthma patients is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning in children with asthma treated with inhaled fluticasone propionate.
- To compare RNFL thickness using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) between asthmatic children and healthy controls.
- To explore correlations between RNFL measurements and asthma-related factors.
Main Methods:
- Study included 38 children with allergic asthma (mean age 9.8 years) on inhaled fluticasone propionate (≥250 µg/day for ≥1 year) and 40 age-similar controls.
- RNFL thickness, central subfield thickness, cube average thickness, and cube volume were measured using Cirrus HD spectral-domain OCT 400.
- Statistical analyses were performed to compare groups and identify correlations.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in mean peripapillary RNFL thickness was observed between asthmatic children and controls.
- Asthmatic children exhibited significantly higher mean central subfield thickness compared to controls (p<0.037).
- A positive correlation was found between cube average thickness and eosinophil count (p<0.039), and a negative correlation between central subfield thickness and disease duration (p=0.017) in asthmatic children.
Conclusions:
- Peripapillary RNFL measurements in asthmatic children on inhaled fluticasone propionate are comparable to those in healthy controls.
- Elevated eosinophil counts in asthmatic children showed a significant association with increased cube average thickness.
- Spectral-domain OCT is a valuable tool for assessing ocular structures in pediatric asthma patients.
Purpose:
Corticosteroids are under suspicion of playing an important role in the development of retinopathy. We aimed to determine peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) in children being treated with inhaled fluticasone propionate due to asthma.
Methods:
Thirty-eight children diagnosed with allergic asthma (mean age 9.8 ± 2.8 years, age range 6-13 years) and 40 age-similar controls were enrolled in this study. All children with asthma were taking inhaled fluticasone propionate at a dosage of 250 µg or more per day for at least 1 year. The RNFL thickness measurements were performed using Cirrus HD spectral-domain OCT 400. Central subfield thickness, cube average thickness, and cube volume were also measured.
Results:
Among the 38 children with asthma and 40 healthy subjects who completed follow-up, children with asthma had similar mean peripapillary RNFL thicknesses compared with control children. The mean central subfield thickness was significantly higher than that of controls (248.8 ± 23.4 vs 237.5 ± 23.5, p<0.037). There was a positive linear relationship between cube average thickness and eosinophil count with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.336 (p<0.039) and a negative correlation was found between central subfield thickness and disease duration (r = -0.385, p = 0.017) in children with asthma.
Conclusions:
Asthmatic children have similar peripapillary RNFL measurements compared to controls on spectral-domain OCT. Raised eosinophil counts in asthmatic children were found to be significantly associated with cube average thickness.
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