Retinal Thinning in People With Well-Controlled HIV Infection

Retinal measurements correlate with disease progression in patients with multiple sclerosis; however, whether they associate with neurologic disease in people with controlled HIV is unknown. Using spectral domain optical coherence tomography, we evaluated retinal differences between people with HIV and HIV-negative controls and investigated clinical correlates of retinal thinning.

People with HIV on antiretroviral therapy for at least 1 year and HIV-negative controls recruited from the same communities underwent spectral domain optical coherence tomography, ophthalmic examination, brain MRI, and neuropsychological testing. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thicknesses were compared between groups using analysis of covariance with relevant clinical variables as covariates. Linear regression was used to explore associations of HIV history variables, cognitive domain scores, and MRI volume measurements within the HIV group.

The HIV group (n = 69), with long-duration HIV infection (median time from diagnosis 19 years) and outstanding viral control have thinner retinal layers than HIV-negative controls (n = 28), after adjusting for covariates (GC-IPL: P = 0.002; RNFL: P = 0.024). The effect of HIV on GC-IPL thickness was stronger in women than in men (Women: P = 0.011; Men: P = 0.126). GC-IPL thickness is associated with information processing speed in the HIV group (P = 0.007, semipartial r = 0.309). No associations were found with retinal thinning and MRI volumes or HIV factors.

People with HIV on antiretroviral therapy have thinning of the RNFL and GC-IPL of the retina, and women particularly are affected to a greater degree. This retinal thinning was associated with worse performance on tests of information processing speed.