This study evaluated retinal parameters and choroidal structure in children with isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD) to compare them with healthy children and to find out if these parameters are affected by recombinant human growth hormone treatment. This was an observational study of 56 patients with IGHD (group 1: mean 11.8 ±2.3 years, 30 male, 26 female) and 46 healthy children as controls (group 2: mean 11.0 ±2.6 years, 24 male, 26 female). There were no significant differences between groups for age, sex, pubertal stage, body mass index, axial length, intraocular pressure, or baseline visual acuity, or for change in central macular thickness, retinal nerve fibre layer thickness and stromal area. In group 1, subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), luminal area, total choroidal area and choroidal vascular index (CVI) were significantly lower than controls. Mean SFCT increased significantly from baseline to 12 months (330.1 ±29.5μm and 333.7 ±37.9μm at baseline to 365.7 ±50.1μm and 370.3 ±49.1μm at 12 months) alongside increases in luminal area, total choroidal area and mean CVI. The authors conclude that patients with IGHD have lower SFCT and CVI values than healthy controls with evidence suggesting that hormone treatment may be associated with choroidal development.
Influence of hormone treatment on choroidal development in isolated growth hormone deficiency patients
Reviewed by Fiona Rowe
Assessment of retinal and choroidal structure in children receiving growth hormone replacement therapy for isolated growth hormone deficiency.
CONTRIBUTOR
Fiona Rowe (Prof)
Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, UK.
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