[Retinal nerve fiber layer alteration in chronic users of chloroquine].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the retina nerve fiber layer by laser polarimetry in patients in chronic use of chloroquine.


METHODS
Forty-four eyes of twenty-two patients were studied. These were in use of chloroquine due to rheumatic diseases during at least one year. As a control group, twenty patients without use of chloroquine with similar characteristics (age, gender and race) were included. Patients who had a family history of ocular hypertension or glaucoma were not included in this group. Both eyes were submitted to analysis of the retina nerve fiber layer with a GDx Nerve Fiber Analyzer.


RESULTS
In 28 eyes (63.6%) of chronic chloroquine users, alterations in more than two parameters by GDx were found. There was alteration in the Deviation from the normal graph with a loss of nerve fibers in 11 eyes (25%). When these results were compared with the control group, there was a significant statistical difference between the following parameters: Superior Ratio, Inferior Ratio, Superior Nasal, Elipse Modulation, The Number, Superior Average and Superior Integral. There was also a significant statistical association between the time of chloroquine use and loss of nerve fiber layer.


CONCLUSIONS
From the results the following conclusion can be drawn: the chronic use of chloroquine was associated with alteration of the nerve fiber layer. Thus these results may contribute to early diagnosis of nerve fiber layer loss in chloroquine retinopathy.
Antunes
Daniela de Almeida Lyra
Dde A
Fundação Altino Ventura, Recife, PE.
Cavalcanti
Hellmann Dantas
HD
Leal
Daena
D
Santana
Helder Viana
HV
Santos
Rodrigo Almeida Vieira
RA
Santos
Laura Patrícia Ferreira
LP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D002738:Chloroquine