Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Analysis in Children with Migraine with and without Aura using Optical Coherence Tomography: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

PurposeTo evaluate retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in children with migraine, with and without aura, compared to healthy controls using optical coherence tomography (OCT).MethodsCross-sectional case-control study. Peripapillary RNFL thickness was measured using optical coherence tomography (OCT) in a group of children diagnosed with migraine with aura (MwA) (n=9) and migraine without aura (MwoA) (n=11), and in a group of healthy controls (n=20). Age, sex, duration of migraine in months, number of episodes per month, duration of episodes in hours, and use of prophylactic treatment with magnesium were recorded. Groups were matched by age, sex and refractive error. All participants underwent complete neurological and pediatric examination.ResultsNo significant differences were found when comparing all migraine patients with healthy controls. However, children with MwA showed statistically significant reductions in RNFL thickness in the temporal (mean difference 7.83; CI95% 0.52-15.14, P=0.027) and inferior-temporal (mean difference 16.06; CI95% 1.95-30.16, P=0.027) sectors compared to patients with MwoA. None of the other sectors showed statistically significant differences between groups (all P>0.05).ConclusionAura in migraine may be associated with a RNFL thickness decrease in children.