title: Changes in the choroidal thickness in reproductive-aged women with iron-deficiency anemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate the potential significance of the central macular thickness (foveal thickness-FT) and choroidal thickness (CT) in the eyes of patients with iron-deficiency anemia, the most common form of the anemia, via enhanced-depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT). We also investigated whether such changes might serve as an early indicator of underlying hematological disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective clinical study compared 96 female patients with iron-deficiency anemia and 60 healthy female control subjects. The macular and choroidal thicknesses in the temporal and nasal subfoveal areas were measured using enhanced-depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) at 500 and 1500 microns and in five different regions (FCT, T1500, T500, N500, and N1500).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean ages of the patients and healthy controls were 34.08 ± 10.39 years and 32.29 ± 8.28 years, respectively (P =0.232). There were no significant changes in macular thickness between the groups (225.58 ± 19.76 vs. 222.45 ± 13.51, P =0.2). The choroidal thickness was significantly reduced in the patient group relative to the controls at all measured points (foveal choroidal thickness, P = 0.042; nasal-500 microns, P = 0.033; temporal-500 microns, P = 0.033; and temporal-1500 microns, P = 0.019). At some points, the choroidal thickness findings correlated with the hemoglobin values (temporal-500 microns, r = -0.287, P = 0.001; nasal-500 microns, r = -0.287, P = 0.005; nasal-1500 microns, r = -0.245, P = 0.016; and temporal-1500 microns, r = -0.280, P = 0.06).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with iron-deficiency anemia had a significantly reduced choroidal thickness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kırıkkale University School of Medicine, Kırıkkale, Turkey. erhanyumusak@yahoo.com.|Kirikkale University Medical Faculty Hospital District Tahsin Duru Akdeniz Caddesi No: 14, Yahsihan/Kırıkkale, 71450, Turkey. erhanyumusak@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Erhan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yumusak
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kırıkkale University School of Medicine, Kırıkkale, Turkey. dr.aydin.71@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Aydin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciftci
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Kırıkkale University School of Medicine, Kırıkkale, Turkey. drselimyalcin@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Selim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yalcin
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kırıkkale University School of Medicine, Kırıkkale, Turkey. c.dayangan-sayan@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Cemile Dayangan
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Sayan
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kırıkkale University School of Medicine, Kırıkkale, Turkey. hande_dikel@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Nevin Hande
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Dikel
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kırıkkale University School of Medicine, Kırıkkale, Turkey. kemalornek@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Kemal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ornek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002829:Choroid / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000502:physiology; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D011446:Prospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D055815:Young Adult