Objective analysis of retinal function in HIV-positive children without retinitis using optical coherence tomography.
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.
Moschos
Marilita M
MM
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Athens, Greece. moschosmarilita@yahoo.fr
Mostrou
Glykeria
G
Psimenidou
Eleni
E
Spoulou
Vasiliki
V
Theodoridou
Maria
M
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*
D015483:HIV Antibodies