VARIATIONS IN CHOROIDAL THICKNESS AFTER HIGH-DOSE SYSTEMIC CORTICOSTEROID TREATMENT IN CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC GLOMERULONEPHRITIS.

Abstract

To study changes in choroidal thickness (CT) after high-dose systemic corticosteroid treatment using spectral domain optical coherence tomography. The authors reviewed medical records for 64 eyes of 32 children who receiving high-dose corticosteroid therapy with chronic glomerulonephritis and no ocular disease. Choroidal thickness was measured in a prospective manner in the same subfoveal area using an enhanced depth imaging technique with spectral domain optical coherence tomography at the same time daily. The possible correlation between CT and various factors was evaluated. Choroidal thickness decreased significantly during methylprednisolone pulse treatment. Mean decrease in CT was 15.42 ± 8.86 μm (range, 14-30 μm). In 10 eyes of 5 children with multiple hospitalizations and pulse treatments, a temporary decrease in CT was observed with methylprednisolone pulse treatment and after recovery without methylprednisolone pulse treatment. In multiple regression analysis, the number of previous methylprednisolone pulse treatments was the only factor associated with the mean amplitude of CT decrease (P = 0.011). High-dose systemic corticosteroid treatment significantly reduces CT. The effect of reducing the CT does not last after cessation of the treatment. The relation of central serous chorioretinopathy with corticosteroid treatment may not be based on the effect of corticosteroid treatment on CT.