Correlation between Visual Evoked Potentials and Optical Coherence Tomography Measurements of Optic Nerve Head, Retinal Head, Retinal Nerve Fibre Layer and Macula in Behçet Disease

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate whether a correlation can be found between retinal structural evaluation (optic nerve head (ONH) evaluation, retinal nerve fibre layer thickness, and macular thickness and volume) and functional (visual evoked potentials) (VEPs) findings in Behçet disease (BD) without neurological manifestations. 13 patients with BD and 12 healthy subjects of a similar age were studied. The retinal nerve fibre layer(RNFL) thickness, ONH parameters, macular thickness and volume were measured by commercially available Stratus optical coherence tomography(OCT). Peak latencies of N₇₅, P100, and N₁₄₅ responses were measured by pattern visual evoked potential examination. The mean disease duration in years was 2,50 ± 0,48 (standard error of mean; SEM). The N₇₅ latencies of the VEP responses were prolonged and the amplitudes lower than controls (p<0.05). The mean RNFL average thickness was significantly reduced in BD patients (104.50 ± 13.88 microns) when compared with those of control subjects (115.85 ± 13.32microns) (p<0.05). The RNFL loss was statistically significant in the superior, temporal and inferior quadrants (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between groups with respect to the ONH or the macular thickness and volume parameters (p>0.05). Average RNFL thickness was significantly correlated to neither the VEP measurements nor the duration of BD (p>0.05). We conclude that the present study suggests a significant reduction in peripapillary RNFL in patients with BD measured by OCT. Although patients in the BD cohort studied here had neither ocular nor neurological involvement prolonged latency and reduced amplitude of the VEP was found. OCT measurements of the retinal nerve fibre layer and VEP measurements may have roles in detecting subclinical neurological involvement in BD.

KEYWORDS::

• retinal nerve fibre layer
• optical coherence tomography
• visual evoked potentials
• Behçet disease
• optic nerve head

Declaration of Interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.