Longitudinal Changes in Peripapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa

To perform a longitudinal analysis of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients.

A retrospective, longitudinal study.

We enrolled patients diagnosed with RP and normal controls.

After the baseline visit, 3 additional measurements of pRNFL thickness at 1-year intervals were analyzed.

Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness.

In total, 142 eyes were included in the study: 72 in the RP group and 70 in the control group. Global pRNFL thicknesses were 89.3 ± 38.9, 86.5 ± 35.2, 84.6 ± 31.8, and 81.6 ± 31.3 μm at baseline, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years in the RP group (P = 0.022), and 100.9 ± 6.3, 100.8 ± 7.0, 100.0 ± 6.3, and 100.3 ± 6.9 μm in the control group ( = 0.079), respectively. The reduction rate of pRNFL thickness was -2.45 μm/y in the RP group and -0.25 μm/y in the control group. In multivariate analysis, age (estimate = -0.55, P = 0.021) and RP stage (estimate = -15.42, P = 0.005) were significant factors associated with changes in pRNFL thickness in RP patients.

Retinitis pigmentosa patients exhibited a thinner pRNFL and a faster rate of thinning over time compared with healthy controls. In RP patients, pRNFL thinning was significantly associated with age and disease stage, possibly reflecting accelerated damage with disease progression.

The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.