Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences

The Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness is Related to Severity of Parkinson’s Disease

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Kave Shafiee 1
Farhad Iranmanesh 2
Ali Sharifi 3
Nasrin Saliminiya 4
Tania Dehesh 5

1 Assistant Professor of Neurology, Neurology research Centre, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

2 Professor of Neurology, Neurology Research Centre, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

3 Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology Department, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

4 Neurologist, Neurology Department, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

5 Assistant Professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22062/jkmu.2019.89577
Abstract
Introduction: We investigated correlation between the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and the severity of Parkinson's disease (PD).
Methods: In this study, the RNFL thickness of 23 patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) was compared to normal controls (NCs). PD severity was assessed by the MDS-UPDRS (movement disorder society Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale) rating scale thoroughly in all parts. RNFL is measured by Ocular Coherent tomography (OCT). Scatter plots were used to evaluate the relationship between disease severity and retinal thickness.
Results: The findings of the study demonstrated that patients with PD had a significantly thinner average RNFL thickness compared with controls (P=0.035). Superior and inferior retinal quadrants were thinnest in PD compared with the healthy group (P=0.021 and P=0.045, respectively). The MDS-UPDRS had a significant reverse correlation with RNFL (r = -0.518, P=0.011) and its temporal quadrant (r = -0.594, P=0.003). Among all parts of MDS-UPDRS scale, Part III had the strongest correlation with OCT findings.
Conclusion: A correlation was found between the severity of the disease and the thinning of RNFL. MDS-UPDRS Part III subscale had the strongest correlation with RNFL thickness. Temporal quadrant RNFL became thinner as Parkinson’s disease severity increased.

 
 

Keywords

Parkinson’s disease
Optical coherence tomography
Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness
Disease severity
Unified Parkinson's disease rating scale
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Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences
Volume 26, Issue 6
November and December 2019
Pages 479-487

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