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Increased Endothelial Cell Density in Childhood Patients With Thalassemia Major
Sevim Ayca Seyyar1, Nesime Setge Tıskaoğlu, Gizem Gürbostan
1Ophthalmology Department (S.A.S.), Kocaeli Derince Education and Research Hospital; Ophthalmology Department (N.S.T.), Ersin Arslan Education and Research Hospital; and Ophthalmology Department (G.G., E.P., O.S.), Gaziantep University Hospital.
Purpose:
We aimed to compare specular microscopy, biometric, refractive, and anterior segment topographic parameters in children with thalassemia major (TM) with normal children of the same age.
Material Method:
This cross-sectional study included 55 eyes of 55 patients with TM and 63 eyes of 63 age-sex-matched healthy children; all patients with TM were receiving treatment with blood transfusions every 3 to 4 weeks and an oral iron chelator deferasirox (DFX) (ICL670) tablet. A comprehensive ophthalmic examination was performed, including refraction (spherical equivalent), best-corrected visual acuity, slit-lamp bio microscopy, specular examination, optical biometry, intraocular pressure, anterior segment topography, and fundus examination.
Results:
Endothelial cell density (ECD) was 3,138 in the TM group and 2,996 in the control group (P=0.003). The mean central corneal thickness was significantly thinner in the TM group (P=0.010). Flat keratometry (K1) was 43.5 D in the study group and 42.9 D in the control group (P=0.039). The mean anterior chamber depth (ACD) was shallower in the TM group (P=0.004); axial length (AL) was significantly shorter in the TM group (P=0.002).
Conclusion:
This study shows that there are differences in ECD, AL, keratometry values, ACD, and anterior segment parameters of pediatric patients with TM compared with healthy controls.
