title: Objective analysis of retinal function in HIV-positive children without retinitis using optical coherence tomography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in children with human immunodeficiency virus disease without cytomegalovirus retinitis or visual symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight eyes of 19 human immunodeficiency virus-positive children (group A) with visual acuity of 20/20 or better, normal color vision testing and no ophthalmoscopically detectable disorders were prospectively examined. All subjects of group A had no history of cytomegalovirus retinitis and CD4 counts consistently above 100. Patients in group B (40 eyes of 21 patients) were human immunodeficiency virus-negative age-matched control subjects. Thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer along a 3.4-mm-diameter circle centered on the optic nerve head was evaluated using third-generation optical coherence tomography. CD8 T-lymphocyte count, presence of systemic infection, hemoglobin, hematocrit and serum beta-microglobulin levels were also recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean overall retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in groups A and B were 89.2 +/- 24.01 microm and 102.82 +/- 29.168 microm (SD) respectively. The difference was considered extremely significant (P < 0.0001). Group A had significantly thinner average nerve fiber layer in temporal, nasal, superior and inferior retinal areas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant retinal nerve fiber layer thinning occurs in human immunodeficiency virus-positive children with no visual impairment or ophthalmologic evidence or retinitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Athens, Greece. moschosmarilita@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Marilita M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Moschos
authors.forename: Glykeria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mostrou
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Psimenidou
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Spoulou
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Theodoridou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D017726:Cytomegalovirus Retinitis / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology*; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies