SEQUENTIAL RETINAL THICKNESS ANALYSIS SHOWS HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE DAMAGE BEFORE OTHER SCREENING TECHNIQUES

We sought to determine the earliest diagnostic signs of hydroxychloroquine retinopathy up to the point of clinical recognition.

Retrospective series of 6 patients (5 parafoveal disease; 1 pericentral disease) with at least 3 examinations over 3.5 years or more preceding diagnosis of HCQ retinopathy. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (sdOCT) cross-sections, fundus autofluorescence (FAF) and visual fields were generated clinically. Stored sdOCT data were re-examined later to generate topographic ellipsoid zone (EZ) maps, minimum intensity (MI) analysis and sequential plots of regional retinal thickness. Retrospective series of six patients (5 parafoveal disease; one pericentral disease) with at least three examinations over 3.5 years or more preceding diagnosis of hydroxychloroquine retinopathy.

Spectral domain optical coherence tomography cross-sections and fields showed similar sensitivity; fundus autofluorescence was not helpful. In parafoveal cases, EZ topography and minimum intensity analysis were no more reliable. Sequential thickness plots from four parafoveal cases showed dramatic retinal thinning across the posterior pole beginning 4 years to 5 years before clinical diagnosis, with parafoveal regions thinning even faster. The pericentral case showed thinning only outside the central macula. Peripheral EZ loss was more dramatic with EZ topography than sdOCT cross-sections.

Sequential retinal thickness plots reveal definitive thinning years before current diagnostic procedures. We hope that OCT manufacturers will develop software to display such measurements. Ellipsoid zone topography was not more sensitive than sdOCT cross-sections, but important for recognizing pericentral disease.