IS THERE A ROLE OF ACTH IN INCREASED CHOROIDAL THICKNESS IN CUSHING SYNDROME?

To evaluate choroidal thickness (CT) in patients with Cushing syndrome (CS) with enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography.

Twenty-eight patients with CS and 38 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this observational cross-sectional study. Patients with newly diagnosed CS who have been admitted to Erciyes University Department of Endocrinology in 3 years time interval were compared with age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. Choroidal thickness was measured at the fovea and 2 points nasal and 2 points temporal to the fovea with 500-μm intervals each.

Choroidal thickness measurements were higher in patients with CS than in the control group at all examination points; however, the difference was found to be significant at the center of the fovea (367.8 ± 94.4 μm vs. 329 ± 90.5 μm) and 1,000 μm temporal to the fovea. Choroidal thickness measurements were significantly higher in adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)-dependent CS group than in the control group at all measurement points (CT at fovea 388.2 ± 92.4 μm vs. 329.1 ± 90.5 μm). All CT measurements were found to be correlated with ACTH levels.

Cushing syndrome is associated with increased CT. The ACTH-dependent CS may increase CT more than ACTH-independent CS. This effect may be directly related to ACTH itself or increased plasma cortisol levels or both.