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Evaluation of Choroidal Structures in Children with Newly Diagnosed Type-1 Diabetes Mellitus
Serdar Bilici1, Tuba Gultekin Erol1, Meliha Esra Bilici2
1Department of Ophthalmology, Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University, Faculty of Medicine, Zonguldak, Türkiye.
Insights
Children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) show thinner subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) than healthy children. However, choroidal vascularity index (CVI) did not differ significantly between groups, suggesting further research is needed.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Endocrinology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) can affect various organs, including the eyes.
- Choroidal changes may be an early indicator of diabetic complications.
- Understanding these changes in newly diagnosed children is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) and choroidal vascularity index (CVI) in children with newly diagnosed T1DM.
- To compare choroidal parameters between T1DM patients and healthy controls.
- To investigate the correlation between glycemic control and choroidal measurements.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study including 80 children (40 with T1DM, 40 controls).
- Enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) used for image acquisition.
- Analysis of SFCT, total choroidal area (TCA), luminal area (LA), stromal area (SA), and CVI.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in TCA, LA, SA, or CVI between T1DM patients and controls.
- Children with T1DM exhibited significantly thinner SFCT compared to healthy controls.
- No correlation found between HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, axial length, and choroidal measurements.
Conclusions:
- Newly diagnosed T1DM in children is associated with reduced SFCT.
- CVI remains unchanged in the early stages of T1DM.
- Long-term studies are recommended to determine the impact of diabetes duration on CVI.
Objectives:
The objective of this study was to evaluate the subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) and choroidal vascularity index (CVI) in children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).
Methods:
A total of 80 children (40 with T1DM and 40 healthy controls) were included in this cross-sectional study. Enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) images of all participants were analyzed. The SFCT, total choroidal area (TCA), luminal area (LA), stromal area (SA), and CVI measurements were obtained from EDI-OCT images and compared between groups. The effects of HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, and axial length measurements on choroidal measurements were investigated.
Results:
There was no significant difference between the groups according to TCA (0.84 [0.57-1.26] vs. 0.88 [0.65-1.16] mm2, p=0.745), LA (0.55 [0.41-0.79] vs. 0.59 [0.43-0.74] mm2, p=0.745), SA (0.27 [0.15-0.47] vs. 0.28 [0.15-0.47] mm2, p=0.935), and CVI (68.03 [66.5-70.5] vs. 67.75 [66.2-69.5] %, p=0.794), respectively. However, T1DM patients had thinner SFCT compared to control subjects (309.0 [327-489] and 398.5 [219-491], p<0.044). No correlation was found between HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, axial length measurements, and SFCT, TCA, LA, SA, or CVI.
Conclusion:
Children with newly diagnosed T1DM have thinner SCFT in comparison to healthy children, however, no significant difference in CVI was observed between the groups. Long-term follow-up should be used to confirm the impact of the DM duration on CVI.
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