José Javier García-Medina1,2,3,4, María García-Piñero5, Mónica Del-Río-Vellosillo6, Jesarán Fares-Valdivia1, Ana Belén Ragel-Hernández7, Salvador Martínez-Saura8, María Dolores Cárcel-López7, Vicente Zanon-Moreno3,4,9, María Dolores Pinazo-Duran3,4,10, María Paz Villegas-Pérez1,2,4. 1. General University Hospital Reina Sofia, Murcia, Spain. 2. Department of Ophthalmology, Optometry, Otolaryngology and Pathology. School of Medicine, University of Murcia, Spain. 3. Ophthalmic Research Unit "Santiago Grisolia", Valencia, Spain. 4. Spanish Net of Ophthalmic Pathology OFTARED, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain. 5. Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, Spain. 6. University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain. 7. Integral Formation Center "Gabriel Perez Carcel", Murcia, Spain. 8. Asociación para la atención de personas con trastornos generalizados del desarrollo de la región de Murcia (ASTRADE), Murcia, Spain. 9. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain. 10. Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, Spain.
Abstract
Purpose: To compare thicknesses of intraretinal layers segmented by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and neurotypical (NT) individuals. Methods: We performed 2 scans on 108 eyes from 54 participants (27 high-functioning ASD and 27 age- and sex-matched NT subjects): macular fast volume and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL). Macula was automatically segmented. The mean foveal and macular thickness of nine different layers and the thickness of nine pRNFL sectors were considered. Data from the right and left eyes were averaged for each participant. The results were compared between the ASD and NT groups. Associations between the Kaufman brief intelligence test (K-BIT), head circumference and SD-OCT results were also investigated in ASD individuals. Results: ASD subjects showed greater foveal thickness at total retina, total inner retina, inner plexiform and inner nuclear layers, and greater macular thickness at total retina and total inner retina. Inferior, nasal inferior and temporal inferior sectors of pRNFL were also thicker in the ASD participants than in the controls (P < 0.05, unpaired t-test). Significant correlations were found between some K-BIT results and temporal inferior and inferior pRNFL thicknesses in the ASD group (P < 0.05, Spearman's rank correlation). No associations were seen between head circumference and OCT parameters. Conclusions: There are intraretinal thickenings at different locations in ASD subjects when compared to NT controls. This fact should be taken into account when interpreting SD-OCT examinations in ASD individuals. Plus, some pRNFL thicknesses present positive correlations with scores of cognitive status in ASD.
Purpose: To compare thicknesses of intraretinal layers segmented by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and neurotypical (NT) individuals. Methods: We performed 2 scans on 108 eyes from 54 participants (27 high-functioning ASD and 27 age- and sex-matched NT subjects): macular fast volume and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL). Macula was automatically segmented. The mean foveal and macular thickness of nine different layers and the thickness of nine pRNFL sectors were considered. Data from the right and left eyes were averaged for each participant. The results were compared between the ASD and NT groups. Associations between the Kaufman brief intelligence test (K-BIT), head circumference and SD-OCT results were also investigated in ASD individuals. Results:ASD subjects showed greater foveal thickness at total retina, total inner retina, inner plexiform and inner nuclear layers, and greater macular thickness at total retina and total inner retina. Inferior, nasal inferior and temporal inferior sectors of pRNFL were also thicker in the ASDparticipants than in the controls (P < 0.05, unpaired t-test). Significant correlations were found between some K-BIT results and temporal inferior and inferior pRNFL thicknesses in the ASD group (P < 0.05, Spearman's rank correlation). No associations were seen between head circumference and OCT parameters. Conclusions: There are intraretinal thickenings at different locations in ASD subjects when compared to NT controls. This fact should be taken into account when interpreting SD-OCT examinations in ASD individuals. Plus, some pRNFL thicknesses present positive correlations with scores of cognitive status in ASD.
Authors: Leonardo Zoccante; Marco Luigi Ciceri; Luigi Alberto Gozzi; Gianfranco Di Gennaro; Nicoletta Zerman Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2022-02-07 Impact factor: 4.157