Retinal and Choroidal Thickness in Adult Patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever

We aimed to evaluate changes in retinal, choroidal, ganglion cell complex (GCC) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thicknesses in genetically diagnosed adult patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF).

A total of 50 eyes of 50 genetically diagnosed patients with FMF and 50 eyes of controls were analyzed. Patients were recruited from the Genetic Diagnostic Center of Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Research and Training Hospital, Turkey. Retinal and choroidal thicknesses were obtained using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography from choroid, retina, GCC, and RNFL.

Average baseline choroidal thickness was statistically significantly thinner in patients with FMF than controls at C_center (325.85 ± 30.8 µm and 338.97 ± 23.9 µm, respectively, p = 0.038), C_nasal500 (328.77 ± 31.6 µm and 349.00 ± 23.3 µm, respectively, p = 0.002), C_nasal1000 (324.97 ± 33.6 µm and 351.23 ± 23.8 µm respectively, p = 0.0001) and C_nasal1500 (324.75 ± 37.1 µm and 344.61 ± 27.3 µm, respectively, p = 0.008). However, there was no significant difference in temporal choroidal thickness (C_temporal500, C_{temporal1000 and} C_temporal1500) in patients with FMF compared to controls (p > 0.05). There were no significant differences in retinal, GCC and RNFL thicknesses between the groups (p > 0.05).

We hypothesize that the chronic inflammation seen in FMF could be the reason for the reduction seen in choroidal thickness in adult patients with FMF. Retinal, GCC and RNFL thicknesses did not differ from controls.