Evaluation of choroidal thickness in patients with scleroderma

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Rheumatology
• Vascular Biology

Background:

• Scleroderma is a systemic autoimmune disease primarily affecting connective tissues.
• Ocular manifestations in scleroderma are common but understudied.
• Choroidal changes may reflect systemic vascular involvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify choroidal thickness in patients with scleroderma.
• To compare choroidal thickness between scleroderma patients and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• Forty-six scleroderma patients and 31 healthy controls underwent comprehensive ophthalmological examinations.
• Axial length (AXL), refraction, and intraocular pressure were measured.
• Choroidal thickness was assessed in nasal, temporal, and subfoveal regions.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in age, gender, BMI, AXL, or spherical equivalent (SE) between groups.
• Scleroderma patients showed significantly thinner nasal, temporal, and subfoveal choroids than controls.
• No significant differences in choroidal thickness between limited and diffuse scleroderma types.

Conclusions:

• Scleroderma patients have reduced choroidal thickness compared to healthy individuals.
• This thinning may be attributed to the arteriolar obliteration and reduced capillary density seen in scleroderma vasculopathy.
• Choroidal thickness could serve as a potential biomarker for systemic vascular changes in scleroderma.