Morphologic and Functional Changes of Macula and Optic Nerve Head in Adult Kidney Transplant Recipient

To assess macular and optic nerve head characteristics in patients after kidney transplantation using noninvasive optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging.

The study had a prospective character and was performed during period from November 2019 to November 2020 at the University Clinical Center Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and included 59 patients with renal graft who underwent OCT. The obtained OCT images, pathologic changes on the fundus, including macula and optic nerve, were analyzed by reviewing nonparametric measures such as scanning laser ophthalmoscope, B-scan, 3D display, as well as parametric measurements such as central macular thickness, optic nerve head excavation, and retinal nerve thickness fiber (RNFL).

There is a statistically significant difference in RNFL values (P = 0.031) and cup to disc (P = 0.002) ratio in relation to duration of graft. The highest average values of RNFL was in patients with creatinine clearance <30 mL/min, while average cup to disc ratio was lowest in patients with creatinine clearance >60 mL/min. Optic nerve head edema was bilateral in 9 and unilateral in 5 patients. Fundus examination also revealed changes on posterior segment, including retinal detachment (1 patient), bilateral macular edema (9 patients), unilateral macular edema (3 patients), central serous chorioretinopathy (2 patients), and macular pseudo hole (3 patients).

Different retinal pathology is present in high incidence in patients secondary to renal transplant. Immunosuppressive therapy, older age, and comorbidities are the usual causes of these changes.