title: Pattern of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness Loss in Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: A Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Optic disc hypoplasia is a common feature in fetal alcohol syndrome. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the optic disc morphology changes and the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in a cohort of 11 patients (22 eyes) with fetal alcohol syndrome and in an age-matched control group. We evaluated optic nerve head parameters (optic disc area and diameter, rim area, cup/disc horizontal and vertical ratios) and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean optic disc area, rim area and optic disc diameter were, respectively, in fetal alcohol syndrome patients and control subjects: 1.540 ± 0.268 and 1.748 ± 0.326 mm2; 1.205 ± 0.286 and 1.461 ± 0.314 mm2; 1.417 ± 0.124 and 1.501 ± 0.148 mm (p < 0.05). We found no significant differences between groups for cup/disc ratios. Mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was significantly lower in fetal alcohol syndrome patients (90.500 ± 9.344 µm) as compared to controls (111.000 ± 7.855 µm) (p < 0.0001). Analysis showed a significant decrease in retinal nerve fiber layer thickness for the superior, inferior and nasal quadrants (p < 0.005). The temporal quadrant showed no significant differences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Optic disc area, rim area and optic disc diameters were significantly reduced in fetal alcohol syndrome patients. Although mean peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was decreased, the temporal quadrant was spared.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In addition to a smaller optic disc area/ diameter and rim area, we found a heterogeneous peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness loss in fetal alcohol syndrome patients with sparing of the temporal quadrant. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography may be useful to determine the presence of fetal alcohol syndrome status.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department. Hospital Pedro Hispano. Matosinhos.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Menezes
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department. Hospital Pedro Hispano. Matosinhos.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department. Hospital Pedro Hispano. Matosinhos.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department. Hospital Pedro Hispano. Matosinhos.
authors.forename: Catarina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mateus
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department. Hospital Pedro Hispano. Matosinhos.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Teixeira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D012160:Retina / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D055815:Young Adult