Posterior pole asymmetry analysis and retinal thickness measurements in young relatives of glaucoma patients

Abstract

The presence of a family history of glaucoma is a known risk factor for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in middle-aged and older individuals. In this study, our aim was to demonstrate possible early glaucomatous alterations in young first- and second-degree relatives of POAG patients by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. A total of 104 participants (52 relatives of POAG patients and 52 healthy individuals) were recruited in this cross-sectional study. All the participants were between 17 years and 45 years of age. All eyes underwent testing with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, hemifield macular thickness, macular ganglion cell complex thickness, posterior pole asymmetry analysis, and retinal arteriolar caliber measurements were taken for comparison between the study and control groups. The mean peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was 104.9 ± 8.8 μm in the study group and 105.6 ± 7.4 μm in the control group (p = 0.68). Although whole macular thickness measurements were higher in the control group when compared with the study group (p = 0.008), the macular ganglion cell complex thickness was similar in both groups (p = 0.87). The posterior pole asymmetry analysis revealed no statistically significant difference between the groups in the aspect of consecutive black squares (p = 0.79). The mean retinal arteriolar caliber was 85.9 ± 4.8 μm in the study group and 86.0 ± 5.0 μm in the control group (p = 0.90). In conclusion, young relatives of POAG patients do not show characteristic glaucomatous damage when compared with the controls.

The assessment of optical coherence tomographic parameters in subjects with a positive family history of glaucoma

“…The cited authors concluded that young relatives (aged 17 to 45 years) of POAG patients did not exhibit characteristic glaucomatous damage when compared to controls. The differences between our data and those of Pekel and colleagues may be associated with a difference in the age of the study groups. The mean age of our subjects was 55 years, which is higher than that of the subjects considered by Pekel and colleagues .…”

“…The differences between our data and those of Pekel and colleagues may be associated with a difference in the age of the study groups. The mean age of our subjects was 55 years, which is higher than that of the subjects considered by Pekel and colleagues . Retinal nerve fibre layer thinning is associated with aging; several authors have reported inverse correlations between age and retinal nerve fibre layer thickness.…”

“…In contrast, the peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer reveals early glaucomatous changes because only retinal ganglion cell axons are evaluated . Pekel and colleagues also found that the mean IOP, CCT and vertical C/D ratio were similar in both groups, as did we. The cited authors concluded that young relatives (aged 17 to 45 years) of POAG patients did not exhibit characteristic glaucomatous damage when compared to controls.…”

“…Unlike Rolle and colleagues, we also evaluated central macular thickness changes; the two groups did not differ. Pekel and colleagues found no significant differences in the ganglion cell complex and retinal nerve fibre layer thicknesses of healthy eyes in those with family histories of POAG and controls; however, the whole‐macular thickness was higher in the control than the test group. We found no significant between‐group difference in central macular thickness.…”

Author Response: Diagnostic Ability of Retinal Arteriolar Diameter Measurements in Glaucoma

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We thank Pekel et al 1 for their interest in our work 2 and for the opportunity to discuss the findings of our study. They mentioned in their study that the mean retinal arteriolar caliber did not statistically differ between young relatives of patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) and age-matched healthy controls; however, we would like to point out that not all relatives of patients with OAG progress to glaucoma.

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