Choroidal Thickness in Children with Congenital Heart Disease Measured by Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

Objective: The main reason for complications in congenital heart diseases (CHD) is decreased blood oxygen saturation and polycythemia which are typical for cyanosis. These parameters may promote the damage of the retina because haemodynamic regulation is essential for the structural and functional integrity of the macular subfields. The aim of this study was to evaluate choroidal thickness (CT) measurements in children with CHD using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods: This prospective study compared 30 CHD and 30 healthy control children. CT was examined with spectralis spectral-domain OCT (Retinascan RS-3000; Nidek). CT was obtained at the subfovea, 500 μm and 1000 μm nasal to the fovea (N500, N1000) and 500 μm and 1000 μm temporal to the fovea (T500, T1000). Only the right eye values were used for statistical comparisons between the groups. The domain cardiac lesions were divided physiologically into two categories: volume overload and cyanotic. Results: Mean age was 11.0±3.5 years in CHD childrens and 10.9±3.6 years in the control group (p=0.971). Children with CHD had no statistically significant CT measurements compared with healthy controls (p>0.05). Conclusion: Although in high haematocrit, low oxygen saturation or the presence of the volume overload in the history of CHD patients, our data suggests that patients with CHD show normal CT. The reason may be medical and surgical treatment of hypoxia, erythrocytosis and volume overload in CHD patients.