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Corneal Confocal Microscopy: A Novel Non-invasive Technique to Quantify Small Fibre Pathology in Peripheral Neuropathies
Published on: January 3, 2011
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Corneal Nerve Parameter Reference Values for Chinese Adults Assessed by Corneal Confocal Microscopy
Juan Cao1,2, Jingru Qu1,3,4,5, Bekzod Odilov1
1Department of Endocrinology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China.
Journal of Diabetes Research
|March 10, 2022
Summary
Confocal corneal microscopy reveals sex-specific nerve parameters in Chinese adults. Age, BMI, and HbA1c did not correlate with corneal nerve fiber density, branch density, or length, establishing new reference values.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neurology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Confocal corneal microscopy offers a noninvasive method for evaluating diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
- Understanding corneal nerve parameters is crucial for diagnosing and monitoring neurological conditions.
- Establishing normative values is essential for accurate clinical interpretation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate clinical variables associated with corneal nerve parameters in healthy Chinese adults.
- To establish reference values for corneal confocal microscopy measures for clinical use.
- To assess the influence of age, BMI, and HbA1c on corneal nerve metrics.
Main Methods:
- Enrolled 257 healthy Chinese adults (137 females, 120 males).
- Utilized confocal corneal microscopy to image the subbasal nerve plexus.
- Measured corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD), corneal nerve branch density (CNBD), and corneal nerve fiber length (CNFL) using automated software.
- Employed partial correlation and quantile regression to analyze data.
Main Results:
- Females exhibited significantly higher CNFD, CNBD, and CNFL compared to males.
- No significant correlation was found between age, HbA1c, height, weight, or BMI and corneal nerve parameters in either sex.
- Age, weight, height, BMI, and HbA1c did not influence the normative values of corneal nerve parameters.
Conclusions:
- Established sex-adjusted reference values for corneal confocal microscopy measures in Chinese adults.
- Provides a valuable reference for clinical practice and research utilizing this imaging technique.
- Highlights the importance of considering sex when interpreting corneal nerve morphology.
